**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Government of India's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2601, concerning the promotion of research and development in the agriculture sector. The response, dated December 16, 2025, outlines activities to promote R&D, disseminate agricultural technologies, and provides state-wise details, especially for Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Research and Development Activities:**
* The Government conducts R&D through the ICAR flagship project 'National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)' at 25 centers.
* Focus is on climate-resilient technologies like resilient varieties, intercropping, conservation agriculture, and integrated farming systems.
* Documented for 27 States and 3 Union Territories.
* 3236 field crop varieties developed by ICAR between 2014-25. Of these, 2996 are climate resilient.
* 341 drought tolerant varieties developed.
* **Dissemination of Agricultural Technologies:**
* The government implements the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) scheme for technology assessment, demonstration, and capacity development.
* 731 KVKs are operational across the country.
* KVKs facilitate convergence with schemes like MGNREGA, ATMA, NFSM, RKVY, PMKSY, and NABARD.
* Activities include Village Climate Risk Management Committees, custom hiring centers, seed banks, and fodder banks.
* KVKs issue timely agro advisories to farmers.
* **State-Wise Details (Annexures):**
* Annexure-I lists the state-wise number of KVKs in India.
* Annexure-II provides the district-wise list of KVKs for Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
* Madhya Pradesh has 54 KVKs.
* Maharashtra has 50 KVKs.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers and Extension Functionaries Impact**
* **Impact:** Farmers benefit from climate-resilient technologies and access to timely information and agro advisories. Extension functionaries gain capacity development and resources to support farmers.
* **Action Required:** Farmers should engage with KVKs to adopt new technologies and participate in demonstrations. Extension functionaries should leverage KVKs to enhance their knowledge and outreach.
**ICAR and Agricultural Research Institutes Impact**
* **Impact:** ICAR and affiliated institutes continue to play a central role in agricultural research and development, with the NICRA project facilitating climate-resilient technology creation.
* **Action Required:** Maintain research and development in agriculture. Engage with KVKs to assess the performance of the latest technologies and developments.
**State Governments and Agricultural Departments Impact**
* **Impact:** State agricultural departments must collaborate with KVKs and ICAR to facilitate the dissemination of agricultural technologies and schemes.
* **Action Required:** Engage with KVKs to implement schemes such as MGNREGA, ATMA, NFSM, RKVY, PMKSY, and NABARD.
**Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Impact**
* **Impact:** ATMA plays a role in convergence with KVKs for dissemination of technologies to farmers.
* **Action Required:** Engage with KVKs to implement schemes related to agricultural technology.
Key Entities Referenced
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): Scheme for technology assessment, demonstration, and capacity development among farmers and extension functionaries
National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA): Flagship network project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) conducting research & development activities on climate resilient technologies.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): Organization through which the government conducts research and development activities related to climate resilient technologies
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: Union ministry responsible for promoting Research and Development (R&D) in the agriculture sector.
Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh: Indian states for which specific details regarding the state-wise and district-wise list of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are provided.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2601
TO BE ANSWERED ON 16TH DECEMBER, 2025
PROMOTION OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR
2601. SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:
DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE:
SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:
SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान
कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:
(a) the various activities being taken by the Government to promote Research and
Development (R&D) in agriculture sector, particularly in climate-smart agriculture and the
development of drought-resistant varieties;
(b) the manner in which the agricultural extension services are being strengthened to
disseminate the latest agricultural technologies and information to farmers across the
country; and
(c) the details thereof, State-wise, particularly city-wise for Maharashtra and Madhya
Pradesh?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृषि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)
(a): The Government through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) flagship
network project ‘National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)’ conducts
research & development activities on the development of climate resilient technologies
through its 25 centres located across the country in ICAR institutes, State Agricultural
Universities and other leading national institutes. Climate resilient technologies viz., climate
1resilient varieties, intercropping systems, conservation agriculture, crop diversification,
agroforestry systems, zero-till sowing, green manuring, integrated farming systems,
integrated nutrient and pest management, organic farming, site specific nutrient
management, in-situ moisture conservation, protective/supplementary irrigation, micro
irrigation methods, animal related technologies including supplementary feed for balanced
ration, use of improved fodder crops, animal housing and breeds etc. have been developed.
These technologies have been documented for 27 States and 3 Union Territories.
During, 2014-25 a total of 3236 field crop varieties have been developed by ICAR out
of which 2996 varieties are climate resilient, which includes 1455 of Cereals, 397 of Oilseeds,
446 of Pulses, 168 of Forage crops, 392 of Fibres, 27 of Other crops and 96 of Sugarcane.
A total of 341 Drought tolerant Varieties Oilseeds (25); Pulses (43); Fibre crops (18); Forage
crops (16); Sugarcane (36); Other crops (3).
(b) & (c): To strengthen and disseminate the latest agricultural technologies and
information to farmers across the country, Government is implementing Krishi Vigyan
Kendras (KVKs) scheme across the country for technology assessment, demonstration and
capacity development among the farmers and extension functionaries. A total of 731 KVKs
are operational in country. At district level, KVKs facilitate in convergence with various
schemes of line departments like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Act (MGNREGA), Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), National Food
Security Mission (NFSM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Pradhan Mantri Krishi
Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Khet Talab Yojna and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development (NABARD) etc. Village Climate Risk Management Committees, Custom hiring
centres, seed banks and fodder banks activities were undertaken for upscaling and spread
of resilient technologies. Timely agro advisories are being issued by the KVKs to farmers to
take informed decisions regarding the impending weather situations.
State wise no. of KVKs established is given in the Annexure-I. District wise list of KVKs
of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are given in Annexure-II.
********
2Annexure-I
[Part (b) & (c) of Lok Sabha USQ No. 2601 dated 16TH DECEMBER, 2025]
State-wise list of KVKs in India.
States Total
A & N Island 03
Andhra Pradesh 24
Arunachal Pradesh 17
Assam 26
Bihar 44
Chhattisgarh 28
Delhi 01
Goa 02
Gujarat 30
Haryana 18
Himachal Pradesh 13
Jammu & Kashmir 20
Jharkhand 24
Karnataka 33
Kerala 14
Ladakh 04
Lakshadweep 01
Madhya Pradesh 54
Maharashtra 50
Manipur 09
Meghalaya 07
Mizoram 08
Nagaland 11
Odisha 33
Puducherry 03
Punjab 22
Rajasthan 47
Sikkim 04
Tamil Nadu 32
Telangana 16
Tripura 08
Uttar Pradesh 89
Uttarakhand 13
West Bengal 23
Total 731
3Annexure-II
[Part (b) & (c) of Lok Sabha USQ No. 2601 dated 16TH DECEMBER, 2025]
District wise no of KVKs in Madhya Pradesh
District No. of KVKs District No. of KVKs
Agarmalwa 1 Mandla 1
Alirajpur 1 Mandsaur 1
Anuppur 1 Mauganj 0
Ashok Nagar 1 Morena 1
Badwani 1 Narsinghpur 1
Balaghat 1 Neemuch 1
Bankhedi 1 Niwari 0
Betul 1 Pandhurna 0
Bhind 1 Panna 1
Bhopal 1 Raisen 1
Burhanpur 1 Rajgarh 1
Chhatarpur 1 Ratlam 1
Chhindwara 2 Rewa 1
Damoh 1 Sagar 2
Datia 1 Satna 1
Dewas 1 Sehore 1
Dhar 2 Seoni 1
Dindori 1 Shahdol 1
Guna 1 Shajapur 1
Gwalior 1 Sheopur 1
Harda 1 Shivpuri 1
Indore 1 Sidhi 1
Jabalpur 1 Singrauli 1
Jhabua 1 Tikamgarh 1
Katni 1 Ujjain 1
Khandwa 1 Umaria 1
Khargone 1 Vidisha 1
Maihar 0 Total KVK 54
District wise no of KVKs in Maharashtra
District No. of KVKs District No. of KVKs
Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar) 2 Nandurbar 1
Akola 1 Nashik 2
Amaravati 2 Osmanabad(Dharashiv) 1
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar 2 Palghar 1
Beed 2 Parbhani 1
Bhandara 1 Pune-I 2
Buldhana 2 Raigad 1
Chandrapur 1 Ratnagiri 1
Dhule 1 Sangli I 2
Gadchiroli 1 Satara 2
Gondia 1 Sindhudurg 1
Hingoli 1 Solapur 2
Jalgaon 2 Thane 1
Jalna 2 Wardha 1
Kolhapulr 2 Washim 1
Latur 1 Yavatmal-I 2
Nagpur 2 Total KVKs 50
Nanded 2
4