PM dedicates to the Nation 35 crop varieties with special traits

What is the News?

The Prime Minister has launched 35 different crop varieties with special traits.

What are these Crop Varieties Launched?

These Crop Varieties have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to address the twin challenges of climate change and malnutrition.

Some of the crop varieties launched include a drought-tolerant variety of chickpea, wilt and sterility mosaic resistant pigeon pea, early maturing variety of soybean, biofortified varieties of wheat, pearl millet, maize and chickpea, quinoa, buckwheat, winged bean and faba bean. 

These special traits of crop varieties also include those that address the anti-nutritional factors found in some crops that adversely affect human and animal health.

What are the other varieties launched?

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has developed the country’s first-ever non-GM (genetically modified) herbicide-tolerant rice varieties named Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985.

These varieties contain a mutated acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene making it possible for farmers to spray Imazethapyr, a broad-spectrum herbicide, to control weeds. 

Hence, this dispenses with the need to prepare nurseries where paddy seeds are first raised into young plants, before being uprooted and replanted 25-35 days later in the main field. This will also significantly save water and labour costs compared to conventional transplanting.

Source: This post is based on the following articles: 

• “PM dedicates to the Nation 35 crop varieties with special traits” published in PIB on 28th Sep 2021.
• “PM Modi launched 35 crop varieties with special traits to address climate change, malnutrition” published in TOI on 28th Sep 2021
• “India gets first herbicide-tolerant & non-GM rice varieties” published in Indian Express on 28th Sep 2021.