PM Modi Launches 35 New Crop Varieties including Herbicide-tolerant Rice Varieties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to release 35 new crop varieties developed at the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, State & Central Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras. These varieties are aimed to create mass awareness for the adoption of climate-resilient technologies. 

35 New Crop Varieties: 

These include a drought-tolerant variety of Chickpea, wilt & sterility mosaic resistant pigeon pea, early maturing variety of soybean, disease-resistant varieties of rice & bio-fortified varieties of wheat, pearl millet, maize & chickpea, quinoa, buckwheat, winged bean and faba bean. 

The special features of these varieties also include those that address the anti-nutritional factors found in some crops that adversely affect human & animal health. 

These crop varieties with special traits have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to address the twin challenge of climate change & malnutrition. 

Inauguration of National Institute of Stress Management  

In the same ceremony, PM Modi is also going to inaugurate the newly constructed campus of the National Institute of Biotic Stress Tolerance, Raipur.  

This institute has been established to take up the basic & strategic research in biotic stresses, develop human resources & provide policy support. The institute has started PG courses from the academic year 2020-21. 

On the same occasion, the prime minister will distribute Green Campus Award to Agricultural Universities, as well as interact with farmers who use innovative methods & address the gathering. 

The green campus Awards has been initiated to motivate the State & Central Agricultural Universities to develop or adopt such practices that will render their campuses more green & clean, & motivate students to get involved in ‘Swachh Bharat Mission, ‘Waste to Wealth Mission’ & community Connect as per the National Education Policy- 2020.

India get's first-ever Herbicide Tolerant & Non-GM Rice Varieties:

IARI has developed India’s first-ever non-GM (genetically modified) herbicide-tolerant rice varieties that can be directly seeded & can significantly save water & labor compared to conventional transplanting.

“Water is a natural herbicide that takes care of weeds in the paddy crop’s early growth period. The new varieties simply replace water with imazethapyr & there’s no need for nurseries, puddling, transplanting & flooding of fields. You can sow paddy directly, just like wheat” said AK Singh, Director, IARI