Global germplasm will be used in the Indian breeding programmes
The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar in Lok Sabha on March 15, 2022, has announced that the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) has enabled access to global germplasm for use in the Indian breeding programmes. Ten high yielding varieties of Lentil, Chickpea and Barley have been released by ICARDA along with ICAR for commercial cultivation in India during the last three years. Of these, six were released in 2019, three in 2020 and one in 2021.
The ICARDA is engaged in the research and development of improved varieties of food crops (Wheat and Barley) and nutritionally rich pulses. Besides, ICARDA also works on different natural management systems like cropping systems, water productivity modelling, conservation agriculture technology, fodder cactus, etc. in association with the ICAR institutions, the State/Central Agricultural Universities and the Central and State Departments.