India - Present status of pest resistant seeds

Development of location specific high yielding varieties/ seeds is a continuous process and regularly carried out by the crop based All India Co-ordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) as per the norms and guidelines across the National Agricultural Research System (NARES) under the aegis of India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The varieties/ seeds thus developed are notified in the Gazette of India after thorough examination by the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties for Agricultural Crops. During the last 10 years (2014 - 2024) a total of 2900 location specific high yielding field crop varieties have been developed and out of these notified varieties / seeds, crop-wise varieties / seeds developed along with the pest /disease resistant/tolerant varieties / seeds (in parenthesis) are as follows: rice 668 (588); wheat 178 (168); barley 21 (13); maize 239 (229); sorghum 78 (68); pearl millet 81 (75); other millets 115 (95); pulses 437 (402); oilseeds 412 (342); fiber crops 376 (345); forage crops 178 (147); sugarcane 88 (83) and other crops 29 (19). These seeds are included in the seed chain for further supply of quality seed to the farmers.

Further, to minimize the losses due to insect-pests infestation, various package of practices for control of insect-pests have been recommended, through which farmers are controlling the insect-pests.

Government of India supports the efforts of States through appropriate policy measures, budgetary allocation and various schemes/ programmes like awareness campaign at village level through crop demonstration and training programmes. The various schemes/ programmes of the Government of India like PM Fasal Bima Yojana, NAMO Kisan Yojana and adoption of integrated crop management practices are meant for the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers. The Government of India has substantially enhanced the budget allocation of Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare from Rs. 21933.50 crore (BE) during 2013-14 to Rs. 1,22,528.77 crore (BE) during 2024-25. The data/details related to suicides Committee by farmers is maintained by respective State Government

Out of these 2900 developed field crop varieties, 2661 varieties (cereals 1258; oilseeds 368; pulses 410; fibre crops 358; forage crops 157, sugarcane 88 and other crops 22) are tolerant to one or more biotic and/or abiotic stresses.  Of these 537 varieties have been developed specially for extreme climate using the precision phenotyping tools.

Systematic efforts have been undertaken to produce breeder and quality seeds of these varieties as per the indents received from different agencies.  Breeder seed production in sufficient quality has been planned from Rabi 2024-25 and processing for Kharif 2025 for expediting delivery of seed to the farmers. Since 2014, total 11.85 lakh quintals of breeder seed have been produced and supplied to the various public and private sector seed agencies for its donwstream multiplication to foundation and certified seeds. The share of less than 10 years old varieties in total seed supply is more than 70%.

All possible efforts are made for creating awareness about these varieties among the seed production agencies and farmers through Doordarshan channels, All India Radio, print, electronic and social media. Frontline demonstrations of these improved crop cultivars are regularly conducted throughout the country by ICAR institutions and SAUs. Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) demonstrates these improved crop cultivars to farmers. Varieties developed are disseminated among farmers for large scale adoption though KVKs, State Department of Agriculture, Doordarshan, ICT tools like mobile apps, etc.

The Government of India is implementing Seed Village Programme component of the Sub-Mission on Seed & Planting Material (SMSP) under National Food Security & Nutrition Mission. The objective of this scheme is to make available the seeds of climate resilient, biofortified and high-yielding varieties to the farmers at the village. Under this programme, the financial assistance for distribution of foundation/ certified seeds is 50% of seed cost in cereals and 60% in oilseeds, fodder and green manure crops for production of quality seeds for one acre per farmer. National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds (NMEO-OS) has been approved for boosting domestic oilseed production and achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in edible oils during 2024-25 to 2030-31.

This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary in a written reply in Lok Sabha.