Top Agri. Research Insti, engaged in wheat, rice research

New Delhi, Feb 24 (UNI) Several top Agricultural Research institutes in the country including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), are conducting research to increase the production and productivity of wheat and rice in the country.

Minister of State for Agriculture Kantilal Bhuria said in Rajya Sabha today that besides the two piestigious institutes, Vivekanand Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, and Directorates of Rice Research and Wheat Research at Karnal were also engaged in similar researches.

So far, more than 70 varieties and 23 hybrids had been developed in rice while in wheat, more than 300 varieties suitable for different agro-climatic ecologies had been evolved.

Appropriate crop production and protection technologies had also been developed. Resource conservation technologies like Zero till, Bed planting had also been developed and refined.

The breeders seed of high yielding varieties of wheat and rice and parental line of hybrids had also been produced to make quality seeds available to farmers.

Replying to another question, Mr Bhuria said that in its Third Interim Report submitted to the government recently, the National Commission on farmers had recommended establishment of an Indian Trade Organisation (ITO) on the WTO model which would help build a long-term memory system in relation to home and external trade and minimise adverse global trade trends by stimulating timely national action.

The Commission has also recommended designating 2006-2007 and the Year of Agricultural Renewal. For this, the Commission has suggested introduction of an integrated package of measures in every part of the country to increase farm productivity and profitability.

UNI RB RS KP1426