New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 109 new high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified crop varieties at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi on Sunday.
During the event, Modi engaged with farmers and scientists, emphasizing the critical role these new varieties will play in enhancing agricultural value addition. He highlighted the advantages of these crops, noting that they will help reduce farming costs and benefit the environment.
Farmers expressed optimism about the new crop varieties, citing their potential to lower expenses and positively impact environmental sustainability. They also commended the government’s efforts to promote natural and organic farming practices.
Prime Minister Modi underscored the growing public interest in nutritious foods, particularly millets, and the increasing shift towards organic farming. He encouraged greater consumer demand for organic products and praised the role of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in raising awareness about these advancements.
Modi suggested that KVKs should actively update farmers about new crop varieties each month to maximize their benefits.
The Prime Minister also praised the scientists for their work on these new varieties, which include 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops. The field crops released include various cereals, millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, fiber crops, and others.
In the horticultural category, the varieties include fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, tubers, spices, flowers, and medicinal plants.
Scientists at the event reported that their work aligns with Modi’s vision of integrating underutilized crops into mainstream agriculture.
