ICAR is playing a vital role in fulfilling the government vision: Radha Mohan Singh

Agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh, said the efforts of the Indian Council for Agticulyure Research (ICAR) have not only helped India transform from an importing nation to an exporting nation but also provided self-sufficiency and nutritional security in food grains.

While addressing the 90th ICAR foundation day, Singh said that the efforts of skilled scientists and the hard work of the farmers, the country today has a buffer stock in food grain, he added.

The agriculture minister said that ICAR is playing a vital role in fulfilling the government vision of doubling farmers income by 2022.


"Due to the techniques developed by ICAR and hard work of the farmers, food grain production touched 275.68 million tonnes this year, which is 10.64 million tonnes more than 265.04 million tonnes recorded in 2013-14," he said.

Horticulture production has touched 305 million tonnes this year,he added.

The country is also moving forward in pulses production and with around 23 million tonnes of pulses production this year, close to self-sufficiency, he said.

"Due to this, the import of pulses has gone down from 10 lakh tonnes in 2016-17 to 5.65 lakh tonnes in 2017-18, saving the country Rs 9775 crore in foreign exchange. The Pusa basmati 1121 variety of Basmati rice developed by ICAR has helped India earn more than Rs 18,000 crore in foreign exchange every year. During 2010-14, India earned Rs 62,800 crore in foreign exchange from exports, which rose to Rs 71,900 crore in 2014-18," he said.


Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of State for Agriculture said ICAR has given special emphasis on higher education in agriculture to enable skilled youth in the field of research and education and the recommendation of the fifth dean committee has been implemented in all agricultural universities.

He added that country has become self-sufficient in most crops except oilseed." One big challenge before us is reducing import of edible oils."Currently, over Rs 70,000 crore worth of edible oil is imported every year.

ICAR Director General Trilochan Mohapatra said the institute has released 189 varieties in last six month. Processable varieties in tomato (H391) and onion (HR6) have been released, which will help boost farmers income.

He said that innovation and support of agri-scientists are required for achieving the government's vision of doubling farmers' income.