ICAR's 100-day initiative for seeds and farm technologies
ICAR has launched a 100-day initiative to introduce 100 new seed varieties and advanced farm technologies, focusing on climate resilience and biofortification. The plan includes establishing seed hubs and showcasing 40 new technologies, with plans for commercialization through 10 MoUs.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has embarked on an ambitious 100-day initiative to introduce 100 new seed varieties and an equal number of advanced farm technologies. This significant effort aligns with the government's 100-day action plan and focuses on developing climate-resilient and biofortified seed varieties alongside innovative farm technologies.
In a press conference, Dr Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) and DG (ICAR) emphasized the Council’s key initiatives such as ‘100 Days 100 Varieties’, ‘100 Days 100 Technologies’, and ‘One Scientist One Product’. He highlighted recent developments in technologies related to water management, soil health, organic farming, seed technology, and agricultural tools. ICAR will release 323 varieties of 56 crops, including cereals, oilseeds, forage crops, and sugarcane, as part of the 96th foundation day of the institution. These crops include 289 climate-resilient varieties and 27 bio-fortified varieties.
ICAR's workforce of 5,521 scientists nationwide is working on developing new seed varieties across diverse crops, including rice, wheat, and horticulture. The technologies in development cover crucial areas such as water management, mechanization, and plant protection. To tackle the challenge of limited penetration of high-yield seed varieties at the farm level, ICAR is setting up 'seed hubs' at its institutions and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
This year, ICAR is prioritizing seed hubs for high-yielding oilseeds and pulses varieties. The plan involves expanding oilseeds hubs to 174 districts and creating model village hubs for pulse seeds in 130 districts. As part of the ongoing celebrations, ICAR is showcasing 40 innovative technologies developed in 2023. Pathak announced plans to sign 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for commercializing these innovations, with around 100 industry players expected to participate in the event.
