New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient and bio-fortified seed varieties of agricultural and horticultural crops. The initiative aims to increase agricultural productivity and farmers’ income. These varieties have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and belong to a total of 61 crops. These include 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops.
Modi introduced the seeds at three experimental agricultural plots at the Pusa campus in Delhi. On this occasion, the Prime Minister also interacted with farmers and scientists. According to an official statement, Modi discussed the importance of these new varieties with the farmers and emphasized the importance of value addition in agriculture. The farmers present on the occasion said that these new varieties related to 61 crops will be highly beneficial for them due to low cost.
The Prime Minister discussed the importance of millets and emphasized how people are turning to nutritious food. He also talked about the benefits of natural farming and the growing interest of the common people towards organic farming. Modi said that people have started consuming and demanding organic food. According to the statement, the farmers also appreciated the efforts of the government and the role of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in promoting natural farming.
Modi suggested that KVKs should actively inform farmers about the benefits of new varieties being developed every month. The Prime Minister also praised scientists for developing these new crop varieties. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan later told reporters that today is a historic day for farmers as 109 varieties of seeds of 61 crops have been released. This will help in increasing farmers’ income, increasing production and reducing costs.
Chauhan said that the seeds of these crops are climate-friendly and can give good harvest even in adverse weather. He said that these varieties are rich in nutrition. Scientists said that they are working as per the Prime Minister’s suggestion to bring obsolete crops into the mainstream.
Agricultural crops include cereals, millets, fodder, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton and fibre crops, while horticultural crops include new varieties of fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers and medicinal plants. Prime Minister Modi has been advocating sustainable farming methods and climate-friendly methods to increase farmers’ income since 2014. He has consistently emphasized on promoting ‘bio-fortified’ varieties, and linked them with government initiatives like the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and Anganwadi services to tackle malnutrition.