Executive Summary:
This document contains the answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4232, concerning climate-resilient seed varieties developed under the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project. It details the varieties developed, farm demonstrations conducted, NICRA villages in Andhra Pradesh, the distribution of seeds to farmers, and monitoring of yield and input usage. The information provided pertains to data up to August 19, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Climate Resilient Seed Varieties Development:
* 17 climate-resilient seed varieties developed under the NICRA project.
* 477 climate-resilient varieties have been evaluated within the NICRA project.
* Annexure I provides a year-wise breakdown of the varieties developed, including their traits (e.g., drought resistance, salinity tolerance).
Farm Demonstrations:
* 9088 farm demonstrations conducted for seed varieties under NICRA across various states and districts.
* Annexure II contains the state, district, and year-wise details of these farm demonstrations.
NICRA Villages in Andhra Pradesh:
* NICRA project is operational in five districts of Andhra Pradesh: Anantapur, Kurnool, Srikakulam, Chittoor, and West Godavari.
* Specific NICRA villages within these districts are listed, including the number of villages per district.
Seed Distribution to Farmers in Andhra Pradesh:
* 14293 farmers in Andhra Pradesh were provided with seeds of climate-resilient varieties.
* Annexure III details the year-wise and district-wise distribution.
Crops and Varieties for Andhra Pradesh:
* Climate-resilient seed varieties have been developed/evaluated for Red gram, Groundnut, Castor, Bengalgram, Jowar, Green gram, Sunflower, Foxtail millet, Sesame, and Paddy, especially for Andhra Pradesh.
Monitoring of Yield and Input Usage:
* Yield and input use (water, fertilizers) were monitored for developed and evaluated varieties under the NICRA project.
* Inputs used as per recommended dose for the agroecological situation.
* Average crop yields of various climate-resilient seed varieties were monitored and recorded.
* Details are provided in Annexure IV.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
* Impact: Farmers in NICRA villages in Andhra Pradesh and other states benefit from access to climate-resilient seed varieties, potentially improving crop yields and resilience to climate-related stresses.
* Action Required: Utilize the provided climate-resilient seed varieties according to recommended practices and participate in farm demonstrations to understand optimal usage.
Agricultural Researchers and Scientists:
* Impact: The data on variety development, farm demonstrations, and yield monitoring provides valuable insights for ongoing research and development of climate-resilient agriculture.
* Action Required: Analyze the data provided in the annexures to inform future research directions and improve the effectiveness of climate-resilient seed varieties.
Government of India (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare):
* Impact: The information supports the monitoring and evaluation of the NICRA project and its contribution to climate-resilient agriculture.
* Action Required: Utilize the provided data to assess the effectiveness of the NICRA project and inform future policy decisions related to climate change adaptation in agriculture.
State Governments (e.g., Andhra Pradesh):
* Impact: Provides state-specific data on the implementation and impact of the NICRA project, enabling informed decision-making at the state level.
* Action Required: Review the data for their respective state, especially regarding farm demonstrations and seed distribution, to identify areas for improvement and expansion of climate-resilient agriculture initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture NICRA: A project under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, focused on developing climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
SHRI BASTIPATI NAGARAJU: A Member of Parliament who raised a question related to climate-resilient seed varieties.
SHRI B K PARTHASARATHI: A Member of Parliament who raised a question related to climate-resilient seed varieties.
SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India for which specific details regarding NICRA project implementation, seed distribution, and crop varieties are provided.
Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh: A district in Andhra Pradesh where the NICRA project is operational.
Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh: A district in Andhra Pradesh where the NICRA project is operational.