The varieties include 81 types of gram, 50 varieties of arhar, 38 of moong, 35 of urad, 33 of lentil, 23 of fieldpea, 19 of cowpea and 25 of other pulses.
New Delhi: A total of 304 high-yielding varieties of pulses have been notified for commercial cultivation in the country during the last eight years, said Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
The varieties include 81 types of gram, 50 varieties of arhar, 38 of moong, 35 of urad, 33 of lentil, 23 of fieldpea, 19 of cowpea and 25 of other pulses. During this period, a total of 20 high yielding varieties of pulses, including six of gram, five of arhar, three of fababean, two each of fieldpea and moong and one each of lentil and urad have been notified for commercial cultivation in Bihar, the minister added.
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The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR) is mandated to produce breeder seeds of different crop varieties against the indent from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW). The breeder seed is provided to various public and private seed-producing agencies for downstream multiplication into foundation and certified quality seed categories and distribution to farmers.
A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said, “During the last five years, a total of 96,731 quintals of breeder seed of high yielding varieties of pulses were produced by the NARS against the total indent of about 77,499 quintals and supplied to the seed producing agencies for further multiplication into foundation and certified quality seed categories and distribution to farmers. About 2,329 quintal breeder seed of pulses was produced during the last five years against the total indent of 1,562 quintal by the state of Bihar.”