Status of Crop Improvement in India
Author: Prashant B. Kale (Ph.D.)
Crop
improvement in India has a long-standing history dating back to ancient
agricultural practices. Over the years, this essential sector has evolved
significantly, adopting modern techniques and technologies to meet the growing
demand for food, fiber, and industrial raw materials. This comprehensive report
provides an overview of the present status of crop improvement in India,
emphasizing the importance of this sector, the key stakeholders involved, the
current challenges, and the innovative approaches being used to enhance crop
yields, nutritional value, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
2. Importance
of Crop Improvement in India Crop improvement
is essential for several reasons:
2.1. Food Security: India's growing population
necessitates the production of more food to meet the demand. Crop improvement
helps in achieving food security by increasing crop yields and quality.
·
Significant
milestones in Indian food security include the Green Revolution of the 1960s,
which boosted crop yields, and the National Food Security Act of 2013, which
aimed to provide subsidized food to a large portion of the population.
2.2. Economic
Development:
Agriculture is a significant contributor to India's GDP. Improved crop
varieties can increase farmers' income and contribute to economic development.
·
Agriculture
contributed approximately 17-20% of India's GDP.
2.3. Climate
Resilience:
Developing crops that are resilient to changing climatic conditions is crucial
to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture.
·
Climate
change is projected to reduce wheat yields by 19.3% in 2050 and 40% in 2080.
·
Sorghum
and other millets are climate-resilient alternatives to wheat. Sorghum has
a lower sensitivity to temperature and a 4% increase in water footprint.
3.
Key Stakeholders in
Crop Improvement
The process of crop improvement in India involves a multitude of stakeholders:
3.1. Farmers:
Farmers are at the forefront of crop cultivation and are crucial in adopting
and adapting new varieties and techniques.
Indian
farmers have adopted modern farming methods to increase production from the
same land. These methods include:
·
Monoculture: Growing
a single crop in a specific area of the farming system
·
Protected
cultivation: Polyhouse and greenhouse cultivation
·
Aquaponics: A
popular modern farming method
·
Hydroponics: A
popular modern farming method
·
Aeroponics
system: A modern farming method
·
Drones: A
modern farming method
·
Precision
farming: A popular modern farming method
·
Vertical
farming: A popular modern farming method
3.2. Agricultural Research Institutions: More than 100 research
institutes under the umbrella of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
and more than 100 research centers under the umbrella of state agricultural
universities are responsible for research and development of new crop varieties
and technologies.
3.3. Government:
The Indian government plays a significant role in funding research, implementing
policies, and providing incentives for crop improvement.
3.4. Seed Companies:
Private seed companies also contribute to crop improvement by developing and
distributing improved seed varieties.
·
Over 700 seed companies in
India. The private sector has been playing an important role in the seed
industry over the last few years.
3.5. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Various NGOs work with farmers
and communities to promote sustainable and innovative agricultural practices.
·
More
than 100 NGOs work for agriculture and related sectors in India.
4.
Current Approaches for Crop Improvement in India employs a variety of modern
techniques and approaches for crop improvement:
4.1. Conventional
Breeding:
Traditional breeding methods, such as cross-breeding and selection, continue to
be widely used for developing new crop varieties.
4.2. Biotechnology: Biotechnology tools like genetic
modification (GM) and genome editing are increasingly being used to introduce
desirable traits, improve crop resilience, and reduce vulnerability to pests
and diseases.
4.3. Genomic
Selection: The
use of genomics data and markers to predict the performance of breeding lines,
enabling more precise breeding decisions.
4.4. Precision
Agriculture:
Utilizing technology to optimize farming practices, including the precise
application of fertilizers and irrigation.
5.
Challenges in Crop Improvement Despite the progress, several
challenges remain in crop improvement:
5.1. Climate Change: Changing weather patterns and
extreme events require crops to be more resilient and adaptable.
5.2. Pest and Disease
Resistance: Evolving
pests and diseases pose a continuous threat to crop yields.
5.3. Resource
Constraints: Smallholder
farmers often lack access to modern techniques and resources.
5.4. Policy and
Regulatory Hurdles: Complex
regulations can slow down the adoption of new technologies.
6.
Recent
Success Stories India has witnessed several notable success stories in crop
improvement:
6.1.
Golden Rice:
Genetically modified rice with increased vitamin A content, addressing
malnutrition issues.
6.2.
Bt Cotton:
Genetically modified cotton with resistance to bollworm, boosting cotton
production.
7.
Future Prospects
The future of crop improvement in India is promising, with a focus on:
7.1. Developing
Climate-Resilient Crops:
Creating crops that can thrive under changing environmental conditions.
7.2. Enhancing
Nutritional Value:
Producing crops with improved
nutritional profiles to combat malnutrition.
7.3. Sustainable
Farming:
Promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices that reduce environmental
impact.
7.4. Digital
Agriculture:
Embracing digital technologies for precision farming, data-driven decisions,
and supply chain optimization.
No comments:
Post a Comment