ICAR Reforms Needed For Improved Results: PM's Principal Secretary

According to PMO Principal Secretary P K Mishra, India must expedite the implementation of hybrid technologies in oilseeds and pulses to address output shortages.

Key Highlights 

• PK Mishra emphasized the need for reforms in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to optimize resource utilization and improve research outcomes.

• Mishra highlighted farmers' hesitation in adopting hybrid crops despite their potential to improve productivity and climate resilience.

• Hybrid technology was identified as a key tool to boost productivity and profitability for small-holding farmers, who constitute 88% of India’s agricultural workforce.

PK Mishra, senior secretary in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), stated on Wednesday that reforms are necessary for the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) and its affiliated research institutes to improve their results and use their resources better.

The independent organisation ICAR is in charge of organising, directing, and overseeing agricultural research and education. A major contributor to the Green Revolution, it is the world's largest agricultural research and education institution network.  

Speaking at a national conference on hybrid technology for increased crop yield hosted by the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), Mishra stated, "Reforms in ICAR are also needed so that its human and other resources are fruitfully utilised."

 The founder and chairman of TAAS, RS Paroda, had already demanded a national mission on hybrids under PPP method and more funding for ICAR for agricultural research and development. He also demanded incentives for the seed sector, such as tax exemptions, and a clear policy regarding genetically modified crops.

While noting the difficulties farmers experience in putting these cutting-edge farming techniques into practice, Mishra also stated that India must hasten the use of hybrid technology in oilseeds and pulses to overcome production shortages.

He emphasised that although hybrid cultivars have shown encouraging results, they have not been widely adopted by farmers, especially in crops like pigeon pea (also known as "toor dal").

Although there are some hybrid mustard seeds on the market, more research is necessary to determine how well they perform in comparison to open-pollinated variants, he said.

PK Mishra Stated 

Mishra mentioned the restriction on yearly seed purchases, which is necessary for hybrid crops, but added that research was being conducted worldwide to create technology that would enable farmers to preserve and repurpose hybrid seeds.

He stated, "This will help save on the cost of seeds."

Mishra emphasised the difficulties in adopting hybrid seeds, pointing out that although India's groundbreaking work in hybrid technology transformed crops like cotton and maize, its acceptance varies among crops despite its demonstrated ability to increase productivity and climate resilience.

After China's success, the nation's hybrid rice program was started in 1989 with assistance from the UNDP and FAO. Since then, public sector organisations have produced several types.

 To encourage broader acceptance, hybrid rice varieties must, according to Mishra, perform noticeably better than pure line varieties under ideal circumstances. The hybrid development programs of ICAR have demonstrated a particular strength in maize, sorghum, and "bajra."

"Maize productivity has been revolutionised by the concept of single cross hybrids," he stated.

Public sector organisations have successfully introduced hybrids in some crops, such as cauliflower, tomato, mustard, pigeon peas, and rice. Experts stress the importance of comprehending farmers' hesitation to use hybrid crops, nevertheless.

The official went on to say that "area expansion will not happen unless the hybrids successfully compete with the best pure line varieties at optimum management conditions and higher profits," emphasising the necessity of targeted research to increase hybrid yield potential.

Creating hybrids that provide definite benefits in terms of productivity, nutrition, and stress tolerance while still being financially feasible for farmers is currently a top research priority.

Guidelines for gene editing technology have been adopted by the government, which may hasten agricultural improvement. It is anticipated that these cutting-edge instruments, such as marker-assisted selection, would improve breeding accuracy and hasten the generation of hybrids with desired features.

Mishra underlined that to overcome implementation issues, strong public-private partnerships (PPP) are necessary. Protecting plant varieties, enhancing intellectual property rights, and creating effective seed production systems are important areas that need focus.

Mishra expressed hope that recent developments in genetics and biotechnology might provide answers to the problems associated with hybrid breeding programs, despite their inherent complexity, which includes inbreeding depression and infrastructural requirements.

According to the official, efforts are still being made to lessen India's reliance on imports of pulses while keeping scientific research pertinent to farmers' requirements.

According to Mishra, hybrid crop technology can be extremely helpful in addressing the particular difficulties that the agricultural industry has, especially in assisting small-holding farmers, who make up 88% of the agricultural workforce, and assisting India in becoming a developed country by 2047.

Attendees at the three-day seminar, which concluded on January 10, were ICRISAT Director General Standford Blade, Federation of Seed Industry of India Chairman Ajai Rana, and ICAR Director General Himanshu Pathak.  

With 46% of India's workforce still reliant on agriculture, compared to 70% in 1977, the sector continues to be vital for equitable growth even though its GDP share has decreased from 42% in 1977 to 18% in 2023–2024.

"The agriculture industry contributes significantly to inclusive and equitable growth."

With notable contributions from livestock (5.8%) and fisheries (9%), India's agricultural growth has accelerated dramatically, reaching an unparalleled annual growth rate of 5% from 2016–17 to 2022–23.

In 2015–16, there were 146 million small farmers, and their average holding size decreased from 2.8 hectares in 1970–71 to 1.08 hectares. According to ICAR, agriculture will still employ 27% of the workforce, but its GDP share will drop to 7% by 2050.

Mishra emphasised that hybrid technology has the potential to increase small-holding farmers' productivity and profitability, saying that it can be extremely helpful in tackling these structural issues.

Mishra recommended a multifaceted strategy that included diversification into horticulture, livestock, and fisheries, increased adoption of hybrid technology in lucrative crops, improved technology adoption for small-holding farmers, sustainable intensification of food grain production, and the growth of non-farm activities.

The success of hybrid vegetable varieties, which enabled India to produce 213 million tonnes in 2022–2023, shows how the technology may assist small farmers make a living while maintaining food security.

The official went on to say, "We need to improve the condition of small-holding farmers through technology adoption and crop diversification," adding that effective hybrid technology implementation might aid in closing the widening economic gap between rural and urban areas.

Mishra stressed that the agricultural revolution must strike a balance between the twin goals of increasing farmer profitability and guaranteeing food security, with hybrid technology acting as a crucial facilitator for both.

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