Shivraj Singh Chouhan to inaugurate 96th ICAR Foundation and Technology Day

Shivraj Singh Chouhan will inaugurate the 96^th Indian Council of Agricultural Research Foundation and Technology Day tomorrow at Dr. C. Subramaniam Auditorium, NASC Complex, New Delhi. Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Union Ministers of States for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, Shri Ram Nath Thakur, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Ministry of Minority Affairs Shri George Kurian and Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry &Dairying and Ministry of Panchayati Raj Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel will also grace the event.

An interactive meet of scientists of ICAR with Industry representatives was held today for collaborative research and technology commercialization. Forty selected technologies will be released to encourage innovations in agriculture and the developer's efforts will be recognized.

A totalof 323 varieties of 56 crops including cereals, oilseeds, forage crops, and sugarcane were released during 2023-24. These varieties include 27 bio-fortified varieties and 289 climate-resilient varieties for the various biotic and abiotic stresses.Based on breeder seed, about 16.0 Mha area is under bio-fortified varieties of different crops including wheat (13.0 Mha), rice (0.5 m ha), pearl millet (1.5 Mha), lentil (0.50 m ha) and mustard (1.0 Mha) during 2023-24. Deployment of climate-resilient technologies led to enhanced production even during the abnormal years. Varietal improvements, one of the major mandates of ICAR, and farmers’ access to improve quality seeds of superior varieties have consistently increased the productivity and quality of farm produce. During 2014-15 to 2023-24, a total of 2593 high-yielding varieties were released which include 2177 climate resilient (83% of total) with biotic and abiotic stress resistance, and 150 bio-fortified crop varieties. More than 1.0 lakh quintal breeder seed on more than 2200 varieties of 56 crops is being produced. Deployment of climate resilient technologies led to enhanced production even during the abnormal years

Among the landmark achievements are high-yielding fine grain aromatic Basmati rice varieties which contribute to aannual export of more than Rs. 42,000 crores of which more than 90% is contributed by four ICAR varieties namely Pusa Basmati 1121, Pusa basmat