Sun Jan 04 15:37:22 UTC 2026: News Article:

India Unveils 184 New Climate-Resilient Seed Varieties, Surpasses China as Top Rice Producer

New Delhi, January 4, 2026 – Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today announced the release of 184 new high-yielding and climate-resilient seed varieties of 25 crops, marking a significant step towards bolstering India’s agricultural productivity and farmer income. The announcement was made at the ICAR Pusa campus in New Delhi.

Developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), universities, and private entities, the new varieties are designed to help farmers overcome challenges such as climate change, soil salinity, and drought. The seeds include 122 cereals, six pulses, 13 oilseeds, 11 fodder crops, six sugarcane varieties, 24 cotton, and one each of jute and tobacco.

In a landmark achievement, Mr. Chouhan also revealed that India has surpassed China to become the world’s leading rice producer, reaching 150.18 million tons compared to China’s 145.28 million tons. He emphasized the significance of the new seed varieties in ensuring national food security and strengthening India’s position as a global food supplier.

Mr. Chouhan highlighted the Modi government’s commitment to agricultural innovation, noting that 3,236 high-yielding varieties have been approved since 2014, compared to 3,969 varieties between 1969 and 2014.

ICAR Director General M.L. Jat emphasized the importance of breeding programs focused on acid soils, organic farming, and regenerative agriculture. Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi praised the National Seeds Corporation’s role in seed multiplication and its contribution to enhanced productivity.

Addressing concerns about the recently passed Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, Mr. Chouhan defended the scheme, accusing the Congress party of spreading misinformation. He argued that the new bill offered a better scheme than MGNREGA, which he claimed was plagued by corruption. He noted that the government had allocated over ₹8.48 lakh crore to the scheme.

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