Prime Minister released 109 high yielding, climate resilient and biofortified varieties of crops | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Prime Minister released 109 high yielding, climate resilient and biofortified varieties of crops

Posted 12 Aug 2024

2 min read

These crops have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and release of new varieties of crops is the example of a "lab to land" programme. 

  • ICAR has been running crop-improvement programme to develop new crop varieties and hybrids with wider adaptability and higher yield.
  • Crop-improvement process uses different strategies such as
    • Genomics-assisted selection
    • Phenomics (systematic measurement and analysis of qualitative and quantitative traits)
    • Conventional breeding or Biotechnology-based approaches like genetic engineering and genome editing.

Need of Crop Improvement 

  • Managing Impact of Climate Change: Climate resilient seeds can yield good crop even in adverse weather (heat waves, droughts, etc.). E.g. Bt cotton
    • Climate resilient crops will reduce crop losses due to diseases and pests attacks. 
  • Food Security: Agricultural yields are projected to drop by 16% by 2030 (World Economic Forum).
  • Nutritional Security: Government seeks to promote biofortified crops by linking them with the programmes like Mid-Day Meal (PM Poshan Scheme), etc., to make India free from malnutrition. 
    • Also, these are affordable as biofortified varieties crop does not involve any additional cost on preparing the enriched food grains. E.g. vitamin-A rich maize grains.
  • Raising Farmers Income: High-yielding and adaptable crop varieties contribute to higher incomes.

About Biofortification  

  • It is the process of improving the nutritional quality of food crops. For example, iron and zinc rich wheat grains 
  • It differs from conventional fortification as it aims to increase nutrient levels in crops during plant growth rather than through manual means during processing.

About  Lab to Land programme

  • It promotes transfer of improved technology developed by agricultural universities and research institutions to farmers. 

 

  • Tags :
  • Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
  • Lab to Land programme
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