PM of India released 109 high yielding, climate resilient and biofortified varieties of crops at research fields of India Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR), New Delhi on 12 Aug 2024.

These crop varieties are developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The released 109 varieties of 61 crops including 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops.  Among the field crops, seeds of various cereals, including millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, fiber, and other potential crops were released. Among the horticultural crops, different varieties of fruits, vegetable crops, plantation crops, tuber crops, spices, flowers, and medicinal crops were released,”.

On this occasion PM emphasized the need to promote the nutritional benefits of millet, among the public, especially women. traders, hotel chefs, and startups to explore innovative avenues for enhancing millet production and consumption. Organic farming, natural farming and trend on believing nutritious food in public were the main discussion points.

During the event, PM visited a field showcasing ‘Pusa 2002,’ a millet variety that matures in just 70 days, compared to the 110 days required by most other varieties. Among the millet varieties presented, “Pooja 1801” is exceptional iron and zinc content and received notable praise. there is a of hope that this variety could play a key role in combating child malnutrition, in partnership with the Ministry of AYUSH.

Importance and impact of these new crop varieties on Indian sectors:

High-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified crop varieties are having good scope of global food security, nutrition, and agricultural sustainability. Their economic impact is multifaceted, affecting farmers, economies, and global trade.

1. Increased Agricultural Productivity and Income

• Higher Yields: These crops are directly increasing agricultural output. This boosts the income of farmers, especially smallholders, by allowing them to grow more food on the same land.
• Reduced Input Costs: Climate-resilient crops often require fewer inputs like water, fertilizers, and pesticides, lowering production costs and increasing profit margins for farmers.

2. Resilience Against Climate Change

• Stable Production: Climate-resilient varieties are better equipped to withstand extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves. This reduces the risk of crop failure, ensuring a more stable food supply and income for farmers.
• Mitigation of Economic Losses: By reducing the likelihood of crop losses due to climate events, these varieties help mitigate economic losses at both the micro (farmer) and macro (national) levels.

3. Improved Nutrition and Public Health

• Biofortification: Biofortified crops, enriched with essential vitamins and minerals (like Vitamin A, iron, and zinc), contribute to better health outcomes, particularly in regions prone to malnutrition. This can reduce healthcare costs and improve labour productivity over time.
• Long-term Economic Benefits: A healthier population is more productive, which can lead to long-term economic growth. Better nutrition also reduces the burden on healthcare systems.

4. Market Opportunities and Export Potential

• Export Growth: Countries that adopt these crops can enhance their agricultural exports, especially to markets that value sustainably produced and nutrient-rich food. This can lead to improved trade balances and foreign exchange earnings.
• Market Stability: The adoption of climate-resilient varieties can stabilize food supply, reducing price volatility in agricultural markets, which benefits both producers and consumers.

5. Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): These crop varieties directly contribute to eradicating hunger and achieving food security by improving the availability and accessibility of nutritious food.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Climate-resilient crops help in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change, contributing to global climate goals.

Challenges and Considerations

• Adoption Costs: While the long-term benefits are significant, the initial costs for farmers to adopt these new varieties, including purchasing seeds and acquiring knowledge, can be a barrier. KVKs should proactively inform farmers about the benefits of the new varieties being developed every month to enhance awareness about their benefits.
• Research and Development: Continued investment in agricultural R&D is crucial to develop and improve these varieties, ensuring they remain effective in the face of evolving climate and nutritional challenges.

High yield crops are crops which have high quantity of production per unit area for crop production. “Yields” mean “harvested production” per unit of harvested area for crop products.

Climate resilient crops– Climate change is one of the challenges facing modern agriculture, compounded by the global population growth and soil quality deterioration.

A climate-resilient crop is resistant to multiple stress factors, which can be abiotic, including both human-made and climate-driven factors, as well as soil-associated or biotic stress factors. Human activity generates greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, that accelerate global warming, leading to climate change. This, in turn, could impact the frequency of extreme weather events and shifts in plant phenology. Human activity also influences the soil and exacerbates soil-associated stresses.

Bio-fortification of crops- Bio-fortification is the process by which the nutrient density of food crops is increased through conventional plant breeding, and/or improved agronomic practices and/or modern biotechnology/genetic engineering without sacrificing any characteristic of that crop.

Bio fortification is seen as an upcoming strategy for dealing with deficiencies of micronutrients in low and middle-income countries. Golden Rice, an example of biofortification using genetic engineering. The golden colour of the grains comes from the increased amounts of beta-carotene.

In summary, high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified crop varieties have the potential to significantly impact economies by enhancing productivity, ensuring food security, improving public health, and contributing to sustainable agricultural practices. However, their success depends on widespread adoption, continued innovation, and supportive policies.