Sowing the seeds for future food security through innovation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched 109 new high-yielding, climate-resilient and bio-fortified varieties of 61 crops at the India Agricultural Research Institute.
Among the 109 varieties of 61 crops released also include 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops. The new cereals crop seeds including millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, fibre and other potential crops. Under the nurturing of new varieties in horticulture, PM Modi released different fruit varieties, vegetable crops, plantation crops, tuber crops, spices, flowers and medicinal crops.
Speaking during the launch, PM Modi maintained that the Union government was committed to empowering the farmers. The climate-friendly and high-yielding varieties of crops would boost the income of farmers and further widen innovation in farming while moving towards natural farming.
“We are committed to empowering our farmer brothers and sisters. In this direction, today in Delhi, I had the opportunity to release 109 new crop varieties. These climate-resilient and high-yielding varieties will not only increase production but also boost the income of our farmers,” PM Modi said in a post on social media platform X.
हम अपने किसान भाई-बहनों को सशक्त बनाने के लिए प्रतिबद्ध हैं। इसी दिशा में आज दिल्ली में फसलों की 109 नई किस्मों को जारी करने का सुअवसर मिला। जलवायु अनुकूल और ज्यादा उपज देने वाली इन किस्मों से उत्पादन बढ़ने के साथ हमारे अन्नदाताओं की आय भी बढ़ेगी। pic.twitter.com/MqW7BP4M3a
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 11, 2024
Under the new agriculture policy the Union government looks to push through a new variety of climate-resilient and bio-fortified crops. The latest launch is also part of an announcement made during the budget last month. While interacting with the farmers and scientists, PM Modi stressed on the need for value addition in agriculture.
“I am satisfied that our farmer brothers and sisters are rapidly moving towards natural farming. Today, I had the opportunity to learn about their experiences up close. During this time, we also had an in-depth discussion on the benefits of natural farming,” PM Modi said.
मुझे इस बात का संतोष है कि हमारे किसान भाई-बहन प्राकृतिक खेती की ओर भी तेजी से कदम बढ़ा रहे हैं। आज उनके अनुभवों को करीब से जानने का मौका मिला। इस दौरान हमने प्राकृतिक खेती के लाभों पर भी विस्तार से चर्चा की। pic.twitter.com/1pjrr2hqzQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 11, 2024
Also while underlining the importance of technology innovations in the agriculture sector, PM Modi maintained that the value addition was key for future needs. PM Modi said that new varieties “will be highly beneficial as they will help reduce their expenditure and also have a positive impact on the environment.”
Applauding the role of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), PM Modi said that these centres should proactively inform farmers about the benefits of the new varieties being developed every month to enhance awareness about their benefits. PM Modi also lauded the efforts of scientists for being successfully aligned with the nation’s goal to bring unutilised crops into the mainstream by developing new crop varieties.
