NEW DELHI: Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday released 184 new varieties of 25 different crops to increase productivity, reduce input costs and address the challenges of climate change. The new varieties included 122 of cereal crops, 22 of Bt cotton, the only genetically modified crop whose commercial cultivation is allowed in India, and 13 of oilseeds, among others.The new Bt cotton varieties are updated transgenic versions that will not only increase yield but also guard crops against pests, insects and weeds, reducing the overall input cost for farmers.The 184 new varieties, developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research institutions (60 varieties), state and central agriculture universities (62 varieties) and private seed companies (62 varieties), will reach farmers for commercial cultivation within three years.Among the 122 new varieties of cereal crops, 60 are of rice, 50 of maize, four of sorghum, five of pearl millet, and one each of ragi, small millet and proso millet. More than 50% (62) of the new cereal varieties belong to the coarse grains category, in sync with the govt’s plan to focus more on nutri-cereals and climate-resilient crops.Underlining India’s transformation from “a food-deficit country to a global food provider” over the years, Chouhan noted on the occasion that the country surpassed China in rice production and became the world’s largest producer. He said India’s rice production reached 150 million tonnes while China’s production was 145 million tonnes. “This has also strengthened India’s role as the world’s food supplier,” said the minister.The list of new varieties comprises six of pulses (1 pigeon pea, 2 green gram and 3 black gram); 13 of oilseeds (3 mustard, 4 safflower, 2 sesame and one each of til, groundnut, gobhi sarson and castor); 11 fodder crops (2 each of oats and fodder sorghum, 1 fodder maize and 6 fodder pearl millet); six of sugarcane; 24 of cotton including 22 Bt cotton; and one variety each of jute and tobacco.The release of new varieties of crops continued a “lab to land” approach of the govt so that farmers could get direct benefit of what the country’s farm scientists have been doing in a targeted manner.“Research is meaningful only when its benefits reach fields on time,” said Chouhan, directing officials to ensure that the newly released varieties should reach farmers within three years.The newly developed varieties are climate-friendly, high-yielding and resistant to major pests and diseases. They were developed to tackle challenges such as climate change, soil salinity, drought and other biotic and abiotic stresses, while also supporting natural and organic farming methods.Since the notification of seed varieties began in 1969, a total of 7,205 crop varieties have been notified in the country. Of these, 3,236 varieties were notified in the last 11-12 years alone, including 1,661 varieties in the last five years, showing increasing focus of scientists on developing climate-friendly, high-yielding, and pest and disease resistant varieties suitable for India’s diverse agro-climatic zones. Go to Source