The Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) made some new announcements on its 96th Foundation and Technology Day, in July 2024. On this occasion, Union Minister for Agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, unveiled 25 innovative crop varieties and gifted them to farmers. New vaccine kits were also introduced to safeguard animal and fish health. Besides, sustainable products made from crop waste were further launched. The event featured an interactive outreach programme for school students, providing them with enlightening exposure to agriculture and cutting-edge technologies.
A concurrent exhibition highlighted innovative agricultural solutions and technologies, captivating the young audience and fostering interest in potential future careers in agribusiness. The major attraction of the exhibition was fruit diversity show exhibiting nearly 400 varieties of mangoes, 80 varieties of bananas, 50 varieties of temperate fruits, and 120 varieties of minor fruits.
Besides, developers of 40 technologies were felicitated for their outstanding contributions in agricultural developments.
Announcements Made
The ICAR Director General, Himanshu Pathak, announced the current action plans and scheme of ICAR that it has been actively working on, such as 100 Days 100 Varieties for new seed development, 100 Days 100 Technologies for innovative farm solutions, and One Scientist One Product for scientist-led innovations. ICAR is also advancing technologies in water management, soil health, organic farming, seed technology, and agricultural tools. This comprehensive initiative by ICAR would help in introducing advanced seed varieties and farm technologies to transform Indian agriculture. This effort underscores the importance of Research and Development in addressing agricultural challenges and ensuring a sustainable food future. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also endorsed these innovations.
100 Days 100 Varieties According to Secretary, Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE) cum Director General (DG) of ICAR, Himanshu Pathak, 100 Days 100 Varieties in intended to develop one hundred crop varieties in one hundred days to bolster India’s agricultural sector.
100 Days 100 Technologies This initiative is intended to introduce 100 new farm technologies, focusing on climate resilience and biofortification.
Pathak has further announced that ICAR is planning to establish specialised ‘seed hubs’ at ICAR institutions and Krishi Vigyan Kendras to increase adoption of high-yielding seed varieties among farmers showcasing 40 new technologies for commercialisation through 10 MoUs, involving 100 industry players. Pathak also highlighted recent developments in technologies related to water management, soil health, organic farming, seed technology, and agricultural tools.
The plan includes expanding oilseeds hubs to 174 districts and creating model village hubs for pulse seeds in 130 districts. These hubs would focus on oilseeds and pulses across various districts. The goal is to improve seed availability and accessibility. The hubs would promote high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified varieties.
PM Narendra Modi released 109 varieties of field and horticultural crops developed by ICAR on August 11, 2024, at the PUSA institute, New Delhi. These varieties included 69 field crops (23 cereals, 11 pulses, seven oilseeds, seven forage crops, four sugar crops, six fibre crops, and 11 potential crops) and 40 horticultural crops (eight fruit crops, eight vegetable crops, three tuber crops, six spices, six plantation crops, five flowers, and four medicinal plants).
One Scientist One Product According to the Director General of ICAR, a total of 5,521 scientists from ICAR have been enrolled in the ‘One Scientist One Product’ initiative, with each scientist assigned to develop a specific product. Each scientist would be given a specific goal under this scheme. The scientists would be required to develop a tangible or intangible product, such as a new seed variety, technology, research paper, or conceptual model. At the beginning of every year, the scientist or the group of scientists must declare which product they aim to create, which may not necessarily be a physical product. Based on their declaration, ICAR would map the scientist’s or the group’s work and assign specific research products. The progress of these assignments would be monitored every three months by officials at the institute level and at the headquarters level twice a year. This is a long-term project, and in some cases, products would be developed collaboratively by groups of scientists, rather than individual researchers working alone. By doing so, ICAR has ensured that each scientist’s work would be target-based and productive, leading to the successful development of various products. The scheme would work for five years. This year, ICAR has prioritised seed hubs for high-yielding oilseeds and pulse varieties.
ICRA’s Accomplishments in 2023–24
During the 2023–24 period, a total of 323 crop varieties were released, encompassing 56 crops such as cereals, oilseeds, forage crops, and sugarcane. Notably, these releases included 27 bio-fortified varieties and 289 climate-resilient varieties designed to combat various biotic and abiotic stresses. The deployment of these climate-resilient technologies has led to enhanced production, even in years with abnormal weather conditions.
Significant progress was made in expanding the cultivation of bio-fortified crops, with approximately 16 million hectares dedicated to crops like wheat, rice, pearl millet, lentil, and mustard. Over the past decade, 2014–24, ICAR developed 2,593 high-yielding varieties, with 2,177 varieties (83 per cent) that have exhibited climate resilience with biotic and abiotic stress resistance and 150 being bio-fortified. Furthermore, ICAR has produced over 1 lakh quintal of breeder seed on more than 2,200 varieties of 56 crops, underscoring its commitment to improving farm productivity and quality through varietal improvements and access to superior seeds.
India has achieved significant success in developing high-yielding, fine grain aromatic Basmati rice varieties. Which have contributed to substantial exports, exceeding Rs 42,000 crores annually. Especially, four ICAR-developed varieties—Pusa Basmati 1121, 1509, 1401, and 1718—account for over 90 per cent of these exports.
India’s horticultural production has seen tremendous growth, soaring 14-fold from 25 million tonnes in 1950–51 to a remarkable 355.3 million tonnes in 2022–23. In the latest development, the 2023–24 period witnessed notable achievements, including the production of 1,071 quintals of breeder seed for various horticultural crops. Furthermore, 48 new varieties were identified, and 2,069 germplasm have been acquired to enhance crop diversity. Additionally, a substantial 17.6 lakh quality plant materials have been produced, underscoring India's commitment to advancing its horticultural sector.
ICAR has developed 23 new agricultural machines and eight process protocols. The livestock sector saw significant growth, with milk production increasing 13-fold since 1951. ICAR further introduced seven new breeds, four vaccines, seven diagnostics, and ten feed technologies.
ICAR’s innovative breeding protocols have transformed the aquaculture and fish production sector. This forward-thinking approach promises a sustainable and thriving industry. ICAR has also introduced seven new fish species; developed seven advanced breeding technologies; and created two life-saving vaccines. Additionally, five nutritious feed products were launched, further enhancing India’s fish production and aquaculture capabilities.
ICAR’s precision farming research pioneers a new era in agriculture, harnessing robotics to drive sustainability and innovation. This cutting-edge approach positions technology at the forefront of farming's future.
ICAR’s grassroots focus has been demonstrated through 47,650 on-farm trials and 2.75 lakh frontline demonstrations. These programs bridge the gap between science and practice, enabling farmers to seamlessly adopt cutting-edge techniques.
About ICAR
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India. Established on July 16, 1929, as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, ICAR promotes agricultural education and research. Headquartered in New Delhi, ICAR operates under the DARE, driving sustainable agriculture practices and innovation.
The ICAR is the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture across India. With an impressive network of 113 ICAR institutes and 74 agricultural universities, it is one of the largest national agricultural systems globally.
The ICAR’s impact on India’s agricultural landscape has been tremendous. Its research and technology development have driven the Green Revolution, increasing foodgrain production by 6.21 times, horticultural crops by 11.53 times, fish by 21.61 times, milk by 13.01 times, and eggs by 70.74 times since 1950–51 to 2021–22. Its scientists are internationally acknowledged in their fields. This remarkable growth has significantly contributed to India’s national food security.
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