PM Modi releases 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified seed varieties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled 109 new high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified seed varieties aimed at boosting farm productivity and farmers’ incomes. Developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and state agriculture universities, these seeds cover 61 crops, including field and horticultural varieties.
The new varieties include rice, wheat, barley, pulses, and various horticultural crops. For instance, the CR Dhan 416 rice variety is suited for coastal saline areas and offers resistance to several diseases and pests. A new durum wheat variety is tailored for specific Indian states and is enriched with zinc and iron.
Additional releases include varieties of barley, maize, sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet, as well as pulses like chickpeas, pigeon peas, and lentils. The launch also featured new oilseed varieties, forage crops, sugarcane, fiber crops, and specialty crops such as buckwheat and amaranth.
Modi introduced these seeds at Delhi’s Pusa Campus, interacting with farmers and scientists to discuss their benefits.
Source: Livemint