ICAR released record 117 seed varieties in 2008

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research had released a record 117 new varieties of seeds last year for crops including wheat, paddy, potato, chick peas and vegetable oils.

"We have released 117 new varieties of seeds in 2008, compared with about 70-80 in the previous year. 15 of these seeds belong to the high-breed category. Many more seed varieties are being developed," ICAR director-general Mangla Rai said in New Delhi on the sidelines of a conference.

Since high-yielding varieties of seeds are crucial for increasing the output level, the ICAR has invested about Rs 50 crore in seed production in 2008, according to Rai.

The research institute has spent roughly 10 per cent of a planned budget of Rs 200 crore in developing new variety of seeds, he said.

Seeds play a seminal role in agriculture on which the efficacy of other inputs are contingent. According to a scientific estimate, seeds can enhance the productivity by 15-20 per cent, depending upon the crops. The yield can also be raised as high as 40 per cent through the optimum use of this essential farm input.