These crops have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and release of new varieties of crops is the example of a "lab to land" programme.
- ICAR has been running crop-improvement programme to develop new crop varieties and hybrids with wider adaptability and higher yield.
- Crop-improvement process uses different strategies such as
- Genomics-assisted selection
- Phenomics (systematic measurement and analysis of qualitative and quantitative traits)
- Conventional breeding or Biotechnology-based approaches like genetic engineering and genome editing.
Need of Crop Improvement
- Managing Impact of Climate Change: Climate resilient seeds can yield good crop even in adverse weather (heat waves, droughts, etc.). E.g. Bt cotton
- Climate resilient crops will reduce crop losses due to diseases and pests attacks.
- Food Security: Agricultural yields are projected to drop by 16% by 2030 (World Economic Forum).
- Nutritional Security: Government seeks to promote biofortified crops by linking them with the programmes like Mid-Day Meal (PM Poshan Scheme), etc., to make India free from malnutrition.
- Also, these are affordable as biofortified varieties crop does not involve any additional cost on preparing the enriched food grains. E.g. vitamin-A rich maize grains.
- Raising Farmers Income: High-yielding and adaptable crop varieties contribute to higher incomes.
About Biofortification
About Lab to Land programme
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