Icar

Chouhan asks ICAR scientists to explore non-GMO ways to raise pulses yield

Shivraj Singh Chouhan urges ICAR to find non-GMO solutions to boost pulses and oilseed yields as the council unveils its agriculture roadmap for 2047

India must cut pulse, oilseed imports through higher yield: Shivraj Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday asked the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to intensify efforts to raise productivity in pulses and oilseeds, sectors where India continues to rely heavily on imports. "If countries without access to GM seeds can get better yields in pulses, why can't India?" Chouhan said, addressing scientists at the 98th ICAR Foundation Day. Chouhan pointed out that farmers with access to irrigation tend to shift toward rice and wheat cultivation -- a pattern he said has played out across Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and other parts of eastern India as irrigation coverage expanded, pushing the country to depend on pulse imports to meet demand. Citing yield comparisons, the minister noted that an acre under maize can produce over 100 quintals, against roughly 30-35 quintals for rice and just about 5 quintals for pulses such as gram or moong. He called the gap "a direct challenge" for ICAR scientists to close. Chouhan also flagg

Mission SEHAT aims to align agriculture and health for nutritional security

This initiative, notably, has come amid the growing apprehension that modern high-yielding crop varieties are, in general, less nourishing than their older versions

Sugar industry seeks Centre of Excellence for advanced sugarcane breeding

ISMA and NFCSF have proposed a ₹87.94-crore Centre of Excellence at ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore, to accelerate development of climate-resilient and disease-resistant sugarcane varieties

ICAR to introduce performance ranking system for all institutions

Agri minister Shivraj Chouhan issues showcause notice to ICAR's Grapes Research Institute for administrative lapses

Chouhan finds functional gaps at ICAR's grape research institute in Pune

Calls for quick action in developing new varieties; highlights slow progress in clean plant programme

PUSA's IARI enters QS university ranking in agriculture, forestry category

For the first time, India's premier agricultural institute IARI features in QS World University Rankings 2026 in agriculture and forestry, joining top global institutions

Fixing oilseeds MSP with oil content could trim India's bulging import bill

The CACP said that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has developed several high oil content varieties and management practices to boost oil yield in mustard and safflower

Only a third of nearly 33K registered FPOs financially viable: Icar body

Average equity capital support for FPOs at 45 per cent of optimal levels; credit access only 37 per cent of optimal levels, a paper by an Icar body shows

Don't break what works: Rethink the recent proposal to fragment ICAR

ICAR is one of the few institutions that retain land-grant-style integration of research, education, and extension across disciplines. To dismantle that is to dismantle our strength

Panel working on IPR issues of gene-edited rice, says ICAR's ML Jat

Genome editing is a relatively new technology, and we've had a breakthrough with the development of two novel varieties using this approach

Anti-GM groups slam ICAR over release of genome-edited rice varieties

The Coalition for a GM-Free India has criticised the release of two genome-edited rice varieties, calling the move unscientific, risky, and a threat to seed sovereignty

ICAR clears release of improved fodder crop by Ranchi agri university

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has recommended the release of an improved variety of fodder crop, Birsa Lathyrus-1, developed by scientists at the Ranchi-based Birsa Agricultural University (BAU). According to a statement from BAU, the new variety was developed under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on fodder crops. The average green fodder yield (GFY) of this variety, released for the country's north east zone and central zone, is 190 quintals per hectare, which is 6.3 per cent more than that obtained from national check variety Mahateora, the statement said. The variety, moderately resistant to leaf blight in the north east zone, is also suitable for timely-sown, normal fertility and under irrigated conditions of Jharkhand, it said. "This variety carries per cent crude protein which is 4-5 per cent higher than the national check. It gives a seed yield of 8.3 quintal per hectare, which is 15 per cent superior to the check variety Mahateora," i

Noted agronomist Mangi Lal Jat appointed as director general of ICAR

Jat is a well-recognised systems agronomist with over 25 years of experience in systems science across the developing world

Set up Indian Council for Fisheries to tap sector's full potential: Panel

The Council on Fisheries as per the Panel would not only facilitate focussed and in-depth research, but also address the challenges faced by the fishery sector

Reforms needed in ICAR for better outcomes, says PM's principal secy

PK Mishra says India needs to accelerate hybrid tech adoption in pulses, oilseeds to overcome production deficits

ICAR, governing body members in bitter war of words over key appointments

With the current Director General of ICAR set to retire in February 2025, Badaravada described the transition as a "golden chance" to reform the organisation

Tripura govt plans palm cultivation on 7,000 hectares of wasteland by FY27

The Tripura government has planned to bring around 7,000 hectares of wasteland under oil palm cultivation by the 2026-27 financial year (FY'27), an official said on Friday. Initially, the Centre had identified 7,000 hectares for oil palm cultivation in the state but the ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research reassessment committee classified 1.46 lakh hectares as a potential area for such farming in 2020 through digital mapping. "Under the National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), the state planned to bring at least 7,000 hectares of wasteland under oil palm cultivation by the 2026-27 financial year. The state has a favourable agro-climate for palm cultivation. Accordingly, we are working rigorously to achieve the target," Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department's Director P B Jamatia told PTI. He said the department has selected two processors as technical associated partners- Godrej Agrovet Pvt Ltd and Patanjali Foods Pvt Ltd -for implementation of the national

Govt should boost soil nutrients to maintain yields, say scientists

A mapping of India's soil health has shown that almost 90 per cent of the land is deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus, and 50 per cent in potassium

One tonne of burnt stubble causes 20 kg soil nitrogen loss, say scientists

According to ICAR scientists, stubble burning leads to the complete loss of nitrogen, while phosphorus is only slightly recoverable