India's Agricultural Advancements
India as the World's Largest Rice Producer
India has overtaken China to become the world's largest rice producer, achieving a total output of 150.18 million tonnes, surpassing China's 145.28 million tonnes.
Release of New Crop Varieties
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released 184 new high-yielding seed varieties across 25 crops, developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). These varieties aim to boost crop production and increase farmers' income.
Achievements in High-Yielding Seed Development
Since 1969, 7,205 crop varieties have been notified, with 3,236 high-yielding varieties approved under the current government, compared to 3,969 varieties from 1969 to 2014.
India's Food Security and Exports
India has transitioned from a food-deficient nation to a global food provider, ensuring food security with abundant foodgrain stocks and exporting rice to overseas markets.
Agricultural Revolution and Climate-Resilient Seeds
Chouhan emphasized the onset of a new agricultural revolution in India, driven by high-yielding and climate-resilient seeds. These seeds address challenges such as climate change, soil salinity, drought, and pests.
- 184 new varieties include:
- 122 cereals
- 6 pulses
- 13 oilseeds
- 11 fodder crops
- 6 sugarcane
- 24 cotton (including 22 Bt cotton)
- 1 jute
- 1 tobacco
Efforts to Ensure Seed Availability
Efforts have been made to increase seed multiplication rates by 1.5 to 2 times, ensuring quality seeds are available to farmers at affordable prices through national and state seed corporations.
Focus on Self-Sufficiency in Pulses and Oilseeds
The minister urged farm scientists to focus on increasing the production of pulses and oilseeds to achieve self-sufficiency.
