Prime Minister Narendra Modi debuted 109 creative crop types at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi on August 11, 2024. With an eye toward high yield, climate resilience, and biofortification, this major advancement seeks to increase agricultural productivity. By addressing important issues faced by farmers, the introduction of these varieties is projected to provide great advantages to Indian agriculture.
There are 61 different crops in all 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops among the recently published variations. Among the field crops are cereals including millets, fodder crops, oilseeds, pulses, and other staples. Fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, tuber crops, spices, flowers, and medicinal plants abound in the horticulture crops. Designed to meet a wide spectrum of agricultural needs, this varied array of crops is meant to increase both the amount and quality of produce.
Prime Minister Modi underlined in his speech the need of value addition in industry, including agriculture. He underlined that these new types would benefit the environment in addition to help farmers cut their costs. These types are supposed to help farmers control expenses and lessen the consequences of climate change by raising crop resilience and output.
The Prime Minister engaged scientists as well as farmers during the event. Farmers noted that the new crop varieties would help to lower agricultural expenses and advance environmental sustainability, therefore reflecting their excitement about them. They also valued Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in increasing knowledge of these developments. To improve the acceptance and utilization of the new kinds, the Prime Minister advised KVKs to aggressively tell farmers about their advantages.
The Prime Minister also discussed the growing need for organic and healthy food, so stressing the need of millets and natural farming methods. He underlined the need of matching farming methods with the increasing customer inclination for organic products.
Working in keeping with the Prime Minister’s objective of bringing underused crops into mainstream agriculture, the scientists engaged in the development of these novel variants have been This project fits within a larger campaign to diversify farming methods and improve food security.
With an eye toward increasing yields, supporting sustainable farming, and satisfying changing needs of the agricultural scene, the launch of these 109 crop types marks a turning point in expanding India’s agricultural industry overall.