New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi today at 11 am would launch 35 crop varieties with special traits through video conferencing. This launch comes with the motive of creating awareness for the adoption of climate-resilient technologies in the country.
The crops varieties have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to address the twin challenges of climate change and malnutrition. As per the notice issued by the PMO, drought-tolerant variety of Chickpea, Wilt and sterility mosaic resistant pigeon pea, early maturing variety of soybean, disease-resistant variety of rice and bio-fortified varieties of wheat, pearl millet, maize and chickpea, quinoa, buckwheat, winged bean and faba bean would be launched.
On this occasion, PM Modi would also distribute the Green Campus Awards to agricultural universities and interact with farmers who use modern technologies. Mentioning about Green Campus Awards, the PMO stated that it was initiated to motivate state and central agricultural universities to develop and adopt practices that would render more greenery to their campus and promote the participation of students in Swach Bharat Abhiyan, Waste to Wealth Mission and community connect as per the National Education Policy 2020. Modi is also scheduled to inaugurate the newly conducted campus of the National Institute of Biotic Stress Tolerance, Raipur.