Centre Promoting New Technology In Agricultural Research: Tomar

Central government during 2020-21 and 2021-22 has allocated funds to the tune of Rs 1756.3 and Rs 2422.7 crore to the states for introducing new technologies including drones, artificial intelligence, remote sensing in agriculture, said Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

Tomar said that the government also allocated Rs 7,302.50 and Rs 7,908.18 crore in 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for undertaking research and development for developing new technologies, their demonstration at farmer’s field and capacity building of farmers for adoption of new technology.

During 2021-22, ICAR has developed and released 309 varieties and hybrids of field crops including 35 varieties with special traits and 94 varieties of horticultural crops for cultivation by ICAR.

"The government also accords adequate emphasis towards reducing transaction costs, promotion of FPOs to improve their bargaining power. Development of infrastructure has also been given due attention to ensure better connectivity of farmers to the national and international market," Tomar said in the reply. 

Required emphasis is given by ICAR to shift research from a commodity-based to farming systems-based approach. ICAR has created multidisciplinary research complexes in different regions of the country to address this, he said. 

A dedicated Institute “ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (IIFSR), Modipuram” is working on characterising, creating, studying and refining the farming system models in all the agro-climatic regions, as per the minister.