I T 4
Handbook of
Agriculture (Facts and Figures for Farmers, Students and All interested in Farming)
ICAR
PUBLISHED BY DIRECTORATE OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURE
INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH NEW DELHI 110 012 www.icar.org.in
First Published Second Edition Third Edition Fourth Edition Fifth Edition (Revised and Expanded) Sixth (Revised) Edition First Reprint of Sixth Edition Second Reprint of Sixth Edition Third Reprint of Sixth Edition Fourth Reprint of Sixth Edition Fifth Reprint of Sixth Edition Sixth Reprint of Sixth Edition Seventh Reprint of Sixth Edition
Technical Co-ordinator
Project Director (DKMA) Incharge (English Editorial Unit) Associates
*
1961 1966 1967 (One impression) 1980 (Eleven impressions) January 2006 November 2009 February' 2011 February 2012 July 2012 May 2013 October 2013 September 2014 December 2014
Dr Mangala Rai Former Secretary (DARE) and Director-General, ICAR, Krishi Bhavan New Delhi 110 114
Dr Rameshwar Singh Dr Aruna T Kumar Shashi A Verma Dr Sudhir Pradhan
ChiefProduction Officer Assistant Chief Technical Officer
Dr V K Bharti K B Gupta
Cover design
Dr V K Bharti
All Rights Reserved Š 2014, Indian CouncilofAgricultural Research. New Delhi
ISBN : 978-81-7164-096-6
11000
Published by Dr Rameshwar Singh, Project Director, Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan-I, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012; Laser typeset by M/s Xpedite Computer Systems, B-20, 2nd Floor, Ranjit Nagar Commercial Complex, New Delhi 110 008, and printed at M/s Chandu Press, D-97, Shakarpur, Delhi 110 092.
Contents
Publisher’s Note Preface to Sixth Edition Preface to Fifth Edition
v vii ix
1
1.
Evolution of Indian National Agricultural Research System
2.
Weather and Agriculture
25
3.
Agriculture and Environment
66
4.
Hill Agriculture
93
5.
Agrobiodiversity
121
6.
Desertification and its Control
159
7.
Soils
181
8.
Water Resources
234
9.
Land Utilization
259
10.
Soil and Water Conservation
298
11.
Conservation Technologies for Sustaining Natural Resources
323
12.
Water Management and Crop Production
371
13.
Watershed Management
422
14.
Irrigation and Drainage Management
454
15.
Use of Low-quality Waters in Crop Production
485
16.
Soil Fertility, Fertilizers and Integrated Nutrients Use
502
17.
Cropping Patterns
557
18.
Weed Management
572
19.
Diseases of Crops
588
20.
Apiculture
625
21.
Biological Control of Crop Pests
646
22.
Insect Pests and their Management
671
23.
Pesticide Residues
715
24.
Nematodes
752
25.
Farm Machinery
785
xii
HANDBOOK OF AGRICULTURE
26.
Farm Power and Energy in Agriculture
800
27.
Post-harvest Technology and Storage
812
28.
Marketing and Trading
853
29.
Farm Management
875
30.
Agricultural Extension
888
31.
Agricultural Legislations
933
32.
Field Crops 32.1 Rice
964
32.2
Wheat
1005
32.3
Barley
1022
32.4
Maize
1038
32.5
Oats
1054
32.6 Millets
1066
32.7
Pulses
1087
33.
Oilseed Crops
1120
34.
Commercial Crops 34.1 Sugarcane and Sugarbeet
1195
34.2
Cotton
1217
34.3
Jute and Allied Fibres
1239
35.
Seed Production and Technology
1269
36.
Agroforestry
1298
37.
Forage Crops and Grasses
1353
38.
Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Agriculture
1418
39.
Sericulture in India
1439
40.
Intellectual Property Rights Crop Biotechnology
1458
41. 42.
1489
Informatics in Agriculture Contributors
1554
Appendices
1567
Index of Important Botanical and Zoological Names
1576
Subject Index
1583
1528
I
1. Evolution of Indian National Agricultural Research System Agriculture, as the largest private enterprise in India (> 10 crore farm holdings), has been and will continue to be the lifeline of the Indian economy at least in the foreseeable future. It contributes nearly 17% to the national GDP, sustains livelihood of about two-thirds of the population, accounts for 52% of the national workforce and forms the backbone of the agro-based industry. Besides, agriculture is a social sector where non-trading concerns like food and nutritional security, employment and income generation, poverty alleviation, gender equity, ecology and environment play a significant role. Contribution of agriculture to our nation's security at the time of economic sanction and in strengthening the national sovereignty is well recognized. Yet, it has remained, so far, an unorganized sector. India through modem agricultural technologies has moved from an era of chronic food shortages and ‘begging bowl’ status during 1960s, when our annual food imports were around 8-10 million tonnes, to a level of food self-sufficiency, buffer stocks and even food exports from 1990s. With reference to 1950, the productivity gains are nearly 3.5 times in foodfpains, 1.6 times in fruits, 2.1 times in vegetables, 5 times in fish, 1.8 times in milk, and 4.8 times in egg production at present. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), which is the flagship of the Indian National Agricultural Research System (NARS), was awardedthe “King Baudouin Development Prize International” for the best agricultural institution in the world in 1988 in recognition of its significant research contributions, and for research excellence in 2004 as a major partner of NARS-led Rice-Wheat Consortium in association with CG institutions. His Excellency, the then President of India, Sheri K.R. Narayanan, while addressing the Parliament on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of India’s independence in August 1997, cited self-sufficiency in foodgrains production as one of the most outstanding achievements of the post-Independence era.
Evolving concerns “Everything else may wait but not agriculture” — these words of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, our first Prime Minister, bear ample testimony to the concerns of our national leadership towards strengthening agriculture. The farm productivity and production levels were quite low and import of foodgrains was a compulsion to meet the domestic needs of food items. At the time of India’s independence, the first and the foremost challenge was to overcome food shortages through enhancement in domestic agricultural production and minimum dependence on food imports. These were made possible by providing farmers with sound scientific knowledge, technology and improved inputs to enhance farm productivity. High priority was accorded towards developing national capacity wherein along with infrastructure, a far greater role of agricultural research and education was realized and emphasized. In 1950-51, the area under foodgrains cultivation was 97.32 Mha of which only 18% was irrigated, the productivity and production stood at 522 kg/ha and 51 million
2
HANDBOOK OF AGRICULTURE
tonnes (Mt) respectively; population was 361.1 million with a modest growth rate of 1.25%. In 1961, population touched 439.2 million at a growth rate of 1.96%, while the foodgrains production increased only to about 82 Mt; and the gap in domestic production and demand for foodgrains had to be bridged through imports. Enhancing food production for self-reliant food security became a prime national concern. All¬ round research and development efforts were made during the decade of 1960s to
strengthen agriculture. Among other measures the ‘miracle seeds’ of wheat and rice were introduced, improved and adopted to boost production. Simultaneously, intensive efforts were made to strengthen agricultural research and education system in the country. The technologies thus developed contributed significantly towards ushering Green Revolution in the country, thus ending the era of foodgrains imports. The stigma of ‘begging bowl’, and ‘ship to mouth’ status was shed off. The momentum of building and strengthening the infrastructure was sustained to develop an effective agricultural research and education system in the country. The Indian NARS has developed more than 3,300 improved varieties/hybrids of various field crops, and over 700 varieties/ hybrids in horticultural crops. The foodgrains production has touched 230 million tonnes, fruit 63 and vegetable production 125 million tonnes, respectively, by 2007OS. The Green Revolution was followed by White Revolution in milk production. Today India with over 100 million tonnes is the highest producer of milk in the world. The availability of milk which was 124 g/person/day in 1950-51 is now at 245g/ person/day. Poultry sector also showed remarkable progress in production, taking annual per caput consumption of 5 eggs in 1951 to 42 in 2005-06. The fisheries sector has grown at 4.5%, ushering in Blue Revolution. If the challenge was to offset food shortages during 1950s and 1960s, there were concerns subsequently on declining factor productivity, the issues of health and judicious utilization of prime natural resources particularly water, soil and genetic resources for a sustainable development of agriculture. The situationcalls for enhanced application of modem science in generation and infusionof new technologies wherein state of the art facilities as well as highly competent human resources need to put in place. The new millennium also brings forth a new global trade regime along with concerns of global competitiveness of farm produce and system sustainability that requires a sound-and-customizedpolicy support. India’sNational Agricultural Research System has been responding to constantly evolving concerns, and will continue to do so in future. However, the overarching concerns of nutritional and livelihood security, poverty alleviation, profitability, gender equity, ecology and environment, and competitiveness in terms of cost and quality will continue to be major issues before the NARS. Priority issues that call for attention include availability of water and its quality, soil-health, genetic resource conservation, insulating farm production against increasing biotic and abiotic stresses, managing climate change, diversification, post-harvest management, enhancing input-use efficiency, energy management, increasing preparedness to match rapidly evolving trade regime, reducing knowledge lag, and congenial policy environment. India presently supports 17% world’s population, 4.2% world’s water resources and 2.3% global land. Per caput availability of resources is 4 to 6 times lesser compared to world average. Foreseeably, this will further decrease due to increasing demographic
EVOLUTION OF INDIAN NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SYSTEM
3
pressure and consequent diversion of land for non-agricultural use. Over years, in our quest for the development we have caused serious damages to our natural resources, soil, water, climate and biodiversity, so much so that now very sustainability of agriculture has become a big challenge. The net sown area in the country increased from 118.75 million hectares in 195051 to 140¹2 millionhectares from 1970 onwards till date. The present cropping intensity of 137% has registered an increase of only 26% since 1950-51. Broad cropping pattern indicates that foodgrains occupy a major share in gross cropped area as compared to non-foodgrains. The per caput availability of the land is on the decline, signaling permanent ceiling on the horizontal expansion of cultivable area. Further, the vast area in the country, over 100 million hectares have degraded due to various causes such as salinity, water-logging, acidity, erosion, which can be put to productive use through appropriate technological interventions. Water has been prioritized to be the most crucial resource. Agriculture uses almost 85% of the total water available in the country. With existing practices, water-use efficiency may seldom increase 40%, while technological potential exists to raise it to about 90%. Inefficient use of water leads to inefficiency of all other resources/inputs like seeds, fertilizers, etc. Of the total 162 Mha of arable land, about 60 Mhais irrigated. Even if the entire irrigation potential of the country is used still about half of the cultivated land will remain rainfed. Rainfed areas presently constitute about 65% of the net cultivated area. Sod* areas can be made productive and profitable by devising tedmoiloÿes for rainwater harvesting and commensurate agricultural production practices. Moreover, over-mining of groundwater has lead to drop in water-table, intrusion of saline water near coastal areas, and also pollution by concentration of toxic ions. By 2020 we would need about 29% more water for agriculture whereas water availability is likely to be reducedby 12%. Therefore, not only sustainable development of potential sources of water, but also to augment, conserve and manage these resources through improvement in water storage, conveyance, application and crop-water-use efficiencies, without detriment to environment and natural resource base is imperative, hence enhanced effort and support is needed. Inequity in access or availability of water, its spatial/temporal variability, public/private investments and participatory management are some of the issues for research, development and policy paradigms. Next to water, nutrients are an important input for guiding sustainable growth of agriculture. Nutrients’ use efficiency ranges from 2 to 50%. In some states the farmers are using unusually high levels of nitrogenous fertilizers that has widened the gap in the N:P:K ratios; the N:P:K use in Punjab is 35:9:1 and for Haryana, it has been as high as 75:24:1, as against recommended practice of 4:2:1. There is also a negative trend of organic-carbon depletion which is a major setback to soil health and its productive potential. Such a low efficiency and imbalanced use of nutrients not only increases production cost but leads to severe environmental consequences. Therefore, maintaining fertilizer balance and fertility management would be the key to enhance productivity. There is also an increasing trend to replace inorganic fertilizer with organic or biofertilizers. Whether nutrients are applied in organic or inorganic forms, the plant takes them in ionic form only. In Indian conditions some pertinent questions that need to be answered before any large scale switch over are : Can organic farming produce
4
HANDBOOK OF AGRICULTURE
enough food for everybody? Is it possible to meet nutrient requirements of crops entirely from organic sources? Are there any significant environmental benefits of organic farming? Is food produced by organic farming superior in quality as compared to the one produced by using balanced nutrient system? Is organic agriculture economically feasible and viable on a changing time scale? Is it possible to manage serious pests and diseases in organic farming? Why can’t the organic and inorganic fertilizers be used in conjunction? In view of the mounting demands of food, nutritional and environmental security, sustainability of the production system, enhancing farmers’ income and employment generation, the diversification of agriculture on a large scale is essential. Apart from varietal diversification, the diversification in terms of fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, flowers, livestock, poultry, fisheries and agroforestry has contributed to a holistic development. Improving cold storage, short period storage during transit of commodities, on farm processing, and cold chain facilities are critical for insulating farmers against risks and success of diversification. Themarkets have to play a decisive role for the survival and success of farming in the coming years, and to sustain thrust on diversification. Post-harvest management is an important area that needs priority attention. It is estimated that about 80-85 million tonnes of food items can become available through suitable post-harvest technologies which otherwise are lost. India is world’s second largest producer of fruits and vegetables, but hardly 2% of the produce is really processed. India’s livestock population is largest in the world but only about 1% of total meat production is converted to value-added products. Besides, the country is also the leading milk producer in the world, yet only about 15% of the total milk production is processed through organized sector. Developing technologies for agricultural waste management and also for converting by-products into main products would be essential to attain and sustain competitive edge. Therefore, technologies for effective post-harvest management need to be developed and promoted, particularly in and around the villages. Agriculture depends heavily on energy to sustain surge in needed productivity growth. Low use efficiency of energy is a matter of serious concern from economic and environmental point of view. Its inefficient use,more specifically, of fossil energy, entails country’s exchequer more on foreign exchange besides increasing cost of production and chances of global warming. Since agriculture is becoming more and more mechanized, issues related to poor mechanical efficiency are very important in energy management. Resource conservation technologies need to be further developed and extensively popularized. Insect-pests, diseases and weather-related aberrations constitute major constraints to food production. The drought of 2002 is regarded as one of the worst droughts in the last one hundred years. American bollworm in cotton, pod borer in chickpea and pigeonpea, and of late, woolly aphid in sugarcane is the glaring examples of production losses due to insect-pests. Weeds also take a heavy toll in yield reduction. Acid soils in over 15 million ha is an impediment to harness enhanced yield. Soil salinity and water¬ logging are increasing in majority of the canal-command areas and are threatening agricultural productivity. Checking losses due to these is, therefore, one of the obvious strategies for increasing food supply. Pro-active or anticipatory research on crops,
EVOLUTION OF INDIAN NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SYSTEM
5
farming systems, animals, fisheries is needed to overcome abiotic and biotic stresses. Integratedpest management is the key for providing sustainable and environmentally sound plant-protection. For this, we have to build institutional capacity for intensive research efforts and mass-production facilities for bio-agents. And a balance between modem methods of pest control and sustainability need to be established. Membership of the WTO and its obligations makes India face stiff challenges from globalization of trade and commerce of all commodities including agriculture. India’s share in global agricultural trade, which is little over 1%, has remained quite low. The country should explore opportunities to promote exports of those products whose export in terms of value is rising at a faster rate, and simultaneously need to enhance its competitive edge to contain imports on a hanging time-scale. Global liberalization requires paradigm shift from increase in production to improvement in efficiency. Technological improvement is one of the most important sources of growth in total factor productivity and in improvement of efficiency. The twin goals of increase in productivity and efficiency can be achieved by harnessing potential of underdeveloped regions and through development of specialized pockets. India has competitive advantage in exports ofhigh-value products, processed products, products with unique characteristics and organically produced commodities. And promoting their exports require development of value chains, new institutional arrangement for production and marketing of high-quality products, and large-scale iirwegmaus in apo-frocessiiig. Quality assurance is an important issue in agriculture pradtiDD'pnhBdls wh High export potential, and apart from ensuring microbiological safety, aspects; of residues of chemicals and antibiotics assume quite a significance. Owing to vast growing market, right in the country, these facilities would be of paramount significance for the marketing in the country as well. TRIPs (Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights) and SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) measures in the World Trade Agreement would call for continued reorientation in the National Agricultural Research System to successfully counter new challenges in agriculture. Further, strong and supportive IPR- and SPS-driven policies are also imperative. Legal expertise has to be developed and different laws and regulations have to be reviewed andharmonized in relation to trade in agriculture. Thus, we need to be highly vigilant and be constantlymonitoring international situation to have mechanisms for rapid counter action. The domestic measures combined with fair world trading agreement would help India to become a significant trading partner in global arena. Highly competent human resources will remain a major strength to pursue the research agenda in the coming years. To ensure high standards of agricultural education and manpower development, the accreditation of institutions of agricultural education, revision of course curricula and syllabi with inclusion of new areas such as environmental science, biotechnology, IPM, IPNS, GIS, computer applications, Bioinformatics, crop modeling, IPRs, agri-business, market intelligence, etc. are imperative. Fortunately in all 83 subjects at masters’ level and 71 disciplines at Ph.D. level has been done in July, 2009. An aggressive and state-of-the-art human resource development effort is critical. This requires establishment of ‘Centres of Excellence’ to develop schools of thought in critical areas, and also to augment our efforts in basic, strategic and anticipatory researches.
6
HANDBOOK OF AGRICULTURE
Biotechnology, nanotechnology, bioinformatics, precision farming, space science, information and communication technology are to be increasingly used towards making Indian agriculture globally competitive. Biotechnology is emerging globally as an effective-and-efficient tool for attaining new horizons in crop, animal and fish productivity. In fact biotechnology has reduced the entire biological world into a big gene pool and, therefore, offers uncommon opportunities for improvements in genetic potential of plants andanimals by introduction/removal of gene(s) that regulate specific traits. Establishment of DNA bank and initiation of projects like Gene discovery and allele mining are forward looking steps in right direction. The conventional breeding methods can be complimented by an array of biotechnologies that can augment production while saving on precious time and resources. The issues of bio-safety and environment need to be addressed along with application of biotechnology in agriculture. Indiahas made appreciable progress in developing capabilities with regard to manpower and related infrastructure but still has to cover considerable grounds in areas of transgenics, genomics and bioprospecting. Massive programme has also been launched on human resource development in the country that is expected to pay dividends as we go along. The application of biotechnology is going to be one of the most critical components in agricultural transformation of the country. Electronics can be very effectively applied in development of precision agriculture technologies. Agricultural output a function of the kind and intensity of input use is equally affected and governed by macro- and micro-variations in the environment, weather and land characteristics. And electronic science can help in developing tools and package of practices to give precise information about when, how much, andhow to or how not to use various inputs under well-defined weather and climatic conditions and type of soils. Site and situation specific management and use of inputs would not only be highly economical but would help in environmental protection and sustenance of its quality also. Use ofmodem information and communication tools and techniques can be of great service in knowledge and technology transfer and can be explored for high-tech production, marketing intelligence and prediction of trade and trends on consumer preferences. Increasing space science application in the form of GIS and remote sensing can help us to obtain advance information on the movement of transÂŹ boundary pests and pathogens, inventorize and assess resources, for effective planning and can have decision support system. The potential ofICTs and space science has to be harnessed for benefit of farming community and country at large. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has established/strengthened research institutions for different crops, commodities and disciplines to strengthen national agricultural research, education and extension system. The first step towards sciencebased development of agriculture in the country dates back to 1889 when Imperial Bacteriological Laboratory was established at Pune, the precursor of the present-day Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar. This was followed by creation of the Agricultural Research Institute at Pusa, Bihar, in 1905, which was shifted to Delhi in 1936 after a devastating earthquake, andis now called the Indian Agricultural Research Institute but still continues to be popularly known as Pusa Institute. On the recommendations of the Royal Commission Report of 1928, the Imperial
EVOLUTION OF INDIAN NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SYSTEM
7
Council of Agricultural Research was established on 16 July 1929. It was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act-1860. The organization was renamed as theIndian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) after Independence. The schemes funded by the ICAR were executed at central and state research institutions and non government organizations. The ICAR was reorganized in 1966, and as the main executive agency it was given responsibility and considerable autonomy to plan, co ordinate and guide research nationally and develop research partnership internationally, The Council is also entrusted with the responsibility for coordinating research with the central and state research institutions. The ICAR hasbeen described as theresearch wing of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, performing a variety of functions including preparation of national research policies and priorities and linking them with the government’s development objectives through its research institutions spread across the country in different agro-ecological regions.
Important organizational reviews Functioning of the ICAR has beenreviewed periodically to enhance its capacity to respond to highly dynamic needs of the agricultural development in the country. A joint Indo-American Team was appointed by the Government of India in 1954, and another in 1959. The first team made a large number of recommendations on research, higher education including administration and personnel management. These recommendations aoeraHahidemphasis on the methodology for utilization of research farads of the ICAR, administration and control of grant funds, development of adequate resapwnrih hcffiiks by states and their participation in schemes of regional or national significance, and development of national or regional centres in areas wherein centrally supported institutions could function more effectively. The Second Indo-American Team stressed upon the overall development of agricultural research programmes through (/) identification of research priorities, (z'i) formation of an Agricultural Research Policy Council of the high-level technical officers to serve as Standing Advisory Committee to the Governing Body of the ICAR, (Hi) strengthening of the co-ordination of all agricultural research programmes, and (iv) effecting necessary organizational changes, such as taking over of the central research institutes as well as the commodity committees under the administrative control of the ICAR. The team also recommended that projects of regional or national significance and of cross-commodity projects should alone be implemented by the ICAR, and the responsibility for local research is left to states. In October 1963, the Government of India appointed an Agricultural Research Review Team with a specific object of improving agricultural research set up in the country and for suggesting necessary changes. This team made important recommendations: (i) replacement of existing Council by a new Council for Agricultural and Food Research, with powers to develop and administer national research programmes, (it) authorization of new Council to assume full technical and administrative controls of all the Central Agricultural Research Institutes and Commodity Committees and certain other research organizations then financed by the Government of India, (Hi) taking over by the ICAR of other related institutions like the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), and (iv) taking up of responsibility of all the extension activities by the ICAR in the country. This team
8
HANDBOOK OF AGRICULTURE
also suggested that the IARI, NDRI, and IVRI should be designated as the National Institutes by giving greater autonomy in their functioning. Based on the recommendations of the Research Review Team, the Government decided in March 1965, to reorganize ICAR by way of (i) bringing under the ICAR all the Central Research Institutions; (ii) reconstituting the Governing Body by making it pre-eminently a body of scientists, (Hi) giving financial assistance for research to the ICAR in the form of a block grant on the model of the Atomic Energy Commission; (z'v) agreeing in principle to the IARI, IVRI andNDRI being designated as the National Institutes and taking up necessary legislation therefore, (v) adoption of a personnel policy on the lines suggested, and (vz) formation of a Cabinet Committee on the Agricultural Research. The ICAR took over the administrative control of 9 research institutes on 1 April 1966; other research institutes were taken over in subsequent years. The ICAR also assumed the research functions of the Central Commodities Committees dealing with tobacco, cotton, oilseeds, coconut, lac, jute, sugarcane, areca nut, cashew nut and spices together with the control of research stations and laboratories maintained by these Commodities Committees. In June 1970 the Cabinet, approved the introduction of a legislation for: (a) declaring ICAR as an institution of national importance; (b) converting ICAR into a statutory body; and (c) conferring upon the ICAR certain functions performed by the UGC in the field of agricultural education. On the basis of the recommendations of the Dr Gajendragadkar Committee (1972), the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) was set up in 1973 in the Ministry of Agriculture to link ICAR with Central and State Governments on the one hand and international organizations on the other. The ICAR was retained as an autonomous society so as to confer necessary operational and functional autonomies in the organization of agricultural research and education. The Agricultural Scientists’ Recruitment Board (ASRB), an independent recruitment agency, was created for the selection of the scientists on the pattern of the UPSC, and an Agricultural Research Service was constituted in the ICAR. The ICAR was also delegatedpowers to formulate policies, develop programmes, and ensure their implementation. The constitutions of Governing and General Bodies of the ICAR were changed, andAccreditation committee and scientific panels were also set up. In 1987 a high-power ICAR Review Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr GV.K.Rao was set up to review organizational infrastructure, personnel policies and functional role of the ICAR to meet new challenges of agricultural production and raising agricultural productivity. The Committee made several recommendations that aimed at making “ICAR tall, slim and healthy”. The Committee recommended that it should become a body with vision and vigour—vision to analyze problems of Indian agriculture, particularly issues like ecological sustainability of Indian agriculture, economic viability of agricultural production, equity in agricultural growth, and particularly developing a system of education and training which could handle all problems of future. The Committee recommended that ICAR should primarily concentrate on planning, aiding, promoting and coordinating agricultural research in the country, and should directly involve itself in research activities that are basic and strategic in nature; and in regional problems it should intervene where SAUs lack
EVOLUTION OF INDIAN NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SYSTEM
9
infrastructure or capacity to do so. The ICAR institutes as a matter of fact should become Centres of Excellence, and develop their national character in real spirit. The Committee also emphasized on the need for greater functional autonomy and decentralization to make the system work efficiently. Many of the recommendations have been implemented. In August 2004, a Committee under the chairmanship of Dr R.A. Mashelkar, Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, was constituted to examine structural framework of the ICAR and to suggest measures for according autonomy to the organization, functional flexibility to its scientists and suitable models to actively pursue identified areas of research and other research-relatedactivities on the commercial lines. Based on the recommendations of the Committee, the Council has undertaken steps to rationalize number of research management positions at the headquarters, for strengthening of ICAR-Industry interface to promote commercialization of technologies, and for institutionalizing a system of IPR protection. The Planning Commission also constituted a Task Group on Revamping and Refocusing of the National Agricultural Research System in October 2004 under the Chairmanship of Dr M.S. Swaminathan. The Task Group has recommended, among other things, promotion of basic and strategic researches in agricultural science. In response, Government of India created a National Fund for Strategic Agricultural Research. Accordingly, the Council has set up an empowered committee consisting of eminent scientists to determine policy and priorities for fund and approval of the researchprojects on competitive basis to attain andsustain advantages through cuttingedge of science and technology. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SYSTEM The ICAR has a strong institutional structure that comprises Central Research Institutes, National Research Centres, Project Directorates, National Bureaus, All-India Co coordinated Research Projects, State Agricultural Universities and Central Agricultural University, agricultural faculties of Central Universities, with an effective mechanism to capitalize also on the strengths of general universities, voluntary organizations and private sector. The ICAR by now has established 567 Krishi Vigyan Kendras at the rural district level, and contemplate to have one KVK in each of the remaining rural districts of the country as an innovative institutionalmodel for assessment, refinement and on farm demonstration of agriculturaltechnologies and training oftrainers/farmers. Based on the success of KVK model one in each rural districts, the Government has approved to have an additional KVK in each of the 50 large districts as well during the XI Plan. The National Agricultural Research System (NARS) spearheaded by the ICAR is among the largest in the world with a manpower of over 25,000 scientists/ teachers. The UnionMinister for Agriculture is the ex-officio President of the ICAR Society. The ICAR Society is the supreme body that meets at least once in a year and reviews progress and performance of the constituent units of the Society and gives such policy directions as may deem to be fit to the Governing Body and other constituent units of the Society. The Governing Body—the chief executive and decision making body of the
10
HANDBOOK OF AGRICULTURE
Mandate of Indian Council of Agricultural Research
To plan, undertake, aid, promote and co-ordinate education, research and its application in agriculture, agro-forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, home science and allied sciences. To act as a clearing-house of research and general information relating to agriculture, animal husbandry, home science and allied sciences; and fisheries matters through its publications and information system, and instituting and promoting transfer of technology programmes. To provide, undertake and promote consultancy services in the fields of education, research, training and dissemination of information in agriculture, agro-forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, home sciences and allied sciences. c To look into the problems relating to broader areas of rural development concerning agriculture, including post-harvest technology by developing co-operative programmes with other organizations such as the Indian Council of Social Science Research, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the Universities. To do other things considered necessary to attain the objectives of the Society.
Council—is responsible for the governance of the ICAR as a whole. The Governing Body functions as an effective decision making and policy implementation body that can discuss in depth matters requiring attention at the national level. It is chaired by the Director-General, ICAR, andis constituted of Vice-Chancellors of SAUs, Directors of ICAR institutes, eminent scientists, Managers, farmers and Secretaries of a number of important departments of Government of India. The Governing Body of the Society is entrusted with the responsibility of managing, administering, directing and controlling affairs and funds of the ICAR. The Director-General is the ChiefExecutive of the ICAR andis supportedby Deputy Directors-General (DDGs) in technical matters and on the administrative and financial matters by the Additional Secretary and Secretary, ICAR, and Additional Secretary andFinancial Advisor, DARE, respectively. At present, there are eight subject-matter divisions, viz. Natural Resource Management, Crop Sciences, Horticulture, Animal Sciences, Fisheries, AgriculturalEngineering,Agricultural Extension, and Agricultural Education. A separate division of AgriculturalExtension,headedby a DDG was created in 1984. Similarly, separate Horticulture and Fisheries divisions were carved out of Crop Science and Animal Science divisions, respectively, in 1987. In 1988, a division of Agricultural Engineering was carved out of the Division of Natural Resource Management. The agricultural research and education institutions under ICAR are listed as AnnexuresIand II, respectively. As a coordinating agency, the ICAR maintains a close working relationship with the SAUs and all other agencies involved directly or indirectly in agricultural research, education and other related activities. The ICAR has bilateral collaborative research programmes with nationalresearch organizations, such as BARC, CSIR, ICMR, ISRO, DBT etc., and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with CGIAR research institutes - CIMMYT, ILRI, ICRAF, IRRI, ICRISAT, IFPRI, ICARDA, CIP, IWMI and has signed MOUs with 26 countries as well.
Central Research Institutes The ICAR directly administers 49 Central Research Institutes (CRIs) in the areas
Fi r s tf e wpa ge soft hi sbooka r epubl i s he d onki s a n. c ombyi t spubl i s he r . I fyouwi s ht opur c ha s eaha r dc opy oft hi sbook,pl e a s ec ont a c tt hepubl i s he r .
Publ i sher
Dr .Ra me s hwa rSi ngh Di r e c t or a t eofKnowl e dgeMgt .i nAgr i . I ndi a nCounc i lofAgr i c ul t ur eRe s e a r c h Kr i s hi Anus a ndha nBha va n-1, Pus a-Ne wDe l hi1 10012. Pr i c e-Rs .1000/ -