PM Modi Unveils 109 Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties To Empower Indian Farmers

In a significant move aimed at empowering Indian farmers and enhancing agricultural productivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient and biofortified seed varieties of agricultural and horticultural crops. These varieties, developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), span across 61 crops, including 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops.

The launch event, held at the Pusa Campus in New Delhi, saw PM Modi unveil the seeds at three experimental agriculture plots while interacting with farmers and scientists. The field crop varieties include a diverse range of crops such as cereals, millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, and fibre crops. For the horticulture sector, the Prime Minister released new varieties of fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, tubers, spices, flowers, and medicinal plants.

PM Modi’s emphasis on sustainable farming practices and climate-resilient methodologies has been a key driver behind this initiative. By promoting biofortified crop varieties, the government aims to combat malnutrition in India through programs like the Mid-Day Meal scheme and Anganwadi services.

Union Minister for Agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, had earlier stated that the 109 seed varieties comprise 23 varieties of cereals, including 9 of rice, 2 of wheat, 1 of barley, 6 of maize, 1 of sorghum, 1 of millet, 1 of ragi, 1 of chheena, and 1 of samba. The list also includes 2 varieties of arhar, 2 of gram, 3 of lentil, 1 of peas, 2 of green gram, 7 of oilseeds, 7 each of fodder and sugarcane, 5 of cotton, 1 of jute, and 40 varieties of horticulture.

To support farmers amidst global challenges, the government has also announced a special package of ₹2,625 crore this year. This package aims to alleviate the burden on farmers due to the longer and time-consuming routes taken by ships carrying fertilizers, a consequence of international conditions.

PM Modi’s commitment to empowering farmers is evident through his advocacy for sustainable farming practices, promotion of climate-resilient methodologies, and emphasis on biofortified crop varieties. The release of these 109 seed varieties marks a significant step towards enhancing farm productivity, boosting farmers’ incomes, and ensuring food security for the nation.