ICAR to release 323 new varieties of 56 crops today

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Last Updated17/07/2024

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will launch its “one scientist, one product” programme on Tuesday to improve research in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry.
The council will formally announce the release of 323 varieties of 56 crops, including cereals, oilseeds, forage crops, and sugar cane, at a function here on Tuesday as part of its 96th foundation day.
These crops include 289 climate-resilient varieties and 27 bio-fortified varieties.
The “one scientist, one product” programme will be inaugurated.

Explaining the programme, ICAR Director-General said that the ICAR had given a target to all 5,521 scientists under the institution to come up with a product, technology, model, concept or good publication.
At the beginning of every year, the scientist or a group of scientists will have to identify the product, and the ICAR will map the work. “We will monitor it at the institute level every three months and at the headquarters level every six months. This is a long plan,” he said. The scheme will work for five years.
“This year, we are prioritizing seed hubs for high-yielding oilseeds and pulses varieties”.
ICAR was also working to develop 100 new seed varieties and 100 farm technologies in 100 days as part of the Centre’s 100-day action plan.

The ICAR said in a release that with the help of breeder seeds, about 16 million hectares (mha) are under bio-fortified varieties of different crops
“Deployment of climate-resilient technologies led to enhanced production even during the abnormal years.
It said that from 2014-15 to 2023-24, a total of 2,593 high-yielding varieties were released.
These include 2,177 climate-resilient (83% of total) varieties with biotic and abiotic stress resistance, and 150 biofortified crop varieties.