FAO-EPSO CONSULTATIONRole and Emerging Partnerships for

Crop Improvement in India

Hari S Gupta

Indian Agricultural Research Institute

New Delhi-110012

India

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Outline

• Contribution of plant sciences to crop production :

Green Revolution• Lessons from Green Revolution: inter-regional

variations and lack of inclusive growth• Future Challenges• Partnership between Europe and Developing

world with special reference to Africa• Way Forward

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Unprecedented Progress during the last 60 years

• Increased agricultural production

(from 50 MT to 252 MT)

• Higher real income and reduced prices

(from 1975 to 2007)

• Reduced poverty

(by 40%)

• Life expectancy doubled

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Food Grains Production in India

1950-51

1960-61

1970-71

1980-81

1990-91

2000-01

2003-04

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

0

300

600

900

1200

1500

1800

Area in m.ha Production in m.t Yield in kg/ha

Are

a a

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Pro

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Yie

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Productivity X3Production X5 Area- marginal inc.

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Production and Productivity of Wheat in India

Prodn.x 9Yield x3Area x 2.5

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Mexican Wheat in IndiaDwarf wheat travelled from Japan to US to Mexico and to India• Salmon (USDA) to Vogel (WSU) to Borlaug (CIMMYT) to IARI • Rabi 1961-62 -Observational Nursery from USDA• Summer 1962 -Multiplication at Wellington in Southern India• Rabi 1962-63 -Demonstration at IARI farm in New Delhi

Dr. Borlaug invited & visited in March 1963• Rabi 1963-64 -Multilocation Trial 4 places• Rabi 1964-65 -Large Multilocation trails-155 places• 1965- Two Mexican Lines Sonora 64 & Lerma Roho 64 A Released

for Commercial cultivation by CVRC (CSCSNRV) • 18,000 tonnes seeds imported despite scarce foreign exchange • Yield increased from 8.3 q/ha in1965-66 to 13 q/ha in 1970-71• Similar was the story in rice with introduction of IR8-dwarf riceINDIA BECAME SELF-SUFFICIENT IN FOOD GRAINS IN EARLY 1970s

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TE 1952 TE1981 TE20060%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

42 4535

816

258

9 9

4230 31

Others

Oilseeds

Fruits & Ve-getables

Food grains

Sh

are

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(in

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The ChallengesDiversification of Crop sub Sector

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Source:: Evenson & Gollin (2003) CABI

Reasons for TransformationGREEN REVOLUTION

• Partnership with CGIAR Institutions - Key to success

• Adoption of HYVs along with associated technology • Joint efforts of

– Agricultural scientists– Bureaucrats– Farmers– Polity

• R&D in agriculture in partnership with US Land Grant Institutions- helped in removing the minor deficiencies in Sonora 64 and Lerma Roho 64A

Wide Inter-Regional Variations in Yield

Sl. No. State Food grain yield, 2009-10 (t/ha)

1. Punjab 4.1

2 Tamil Nadu 2.5

3 West Bengal 2.5

4 Uttar Pradesh 2.2

5 Bihar 1.5

6 Orissa 1.4

7 Madhya Pradesh 1.3

Focus on high potential eastern region for immediate yield gains and inclusive growth

Agricultural Production Scenario

Commodity Production in 1950

(Million tonnes)

Production in 2011

(Million tonnes)

Food grains 50.00 252.0

Vegetables 58.50 (91-92) 125.0

Fruits 28.60 (91-92) 63.6

Milk 17.00 104.8

Egg (nos.) 1.80 53.5 billion

Fish 0.75 7.3

4-27 times increase in production of various commodities

FUTURE CHALLENGES &

STRATEGIES TO MEET THEM

Food Requirement- Indian Scenario Production 2010-11

(Million tonnes)

• Rice 103.41

• Wheat90.23

• Coarse cer41.9

• Pulses17.02

• Total 252.5• Oilseed-31 Million Tonnes

Demand 2021(Million tonnes)

120

100

40

25

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Rice

Wheat

Coarse cereals

Pulses

Total

Rice

Wheat

Coarse cereals

Pulses

Total

Will India import food grains in 2023

Dr. S. Raman, New Delhi Winter School, 20/3/09

Fresh Water Resources – 4.6 %

Land – 2.3 %

Population – 17 %

Rainfall – 1170 mm

Resources and Liabilities

XXXXXXXXXXXX

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The Challenges Second Generation Problems

of Green Revolution

-Nutritional Security?-Breaking yield barrier

-Decline in Factor Productivity- Soil Health and Water Table declining

- Increased Incidence of Diseases and Pests- Climate change- the biggest threat

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The Challenges Incidence of malnutrition among children

(< 3 years)

0

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50

60

Severe Moderate Overall

Per

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Undernutrition

Rural

Urban

All

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The Challenges

Raise Productivity

(Small farms holdings)

Increase Income (Low Cost technology)

Manage Natural Resources

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Climate Change : Effect of Enhanced CO2

Change in insect-pest dynamics

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Climate ChangeNeed for Anticipatory Research

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Recent Successes Bt Cotton

Area reached 8.4 m ha in 2011 nearly 85% of total area.

Production doubled 2.3 mt in 2002 to 4.9 mt in 2010

Pesticide consumption reduced by 40%

Income of 5 m farmers increased substantially

Cotton export fetched US $ >1.5 billion in 2010

Soybean Area - 30, 000 ha (1970) to 10.3 Mha in 2011

Production - 0.14 MT (1970) to 12.4 MT in 2011

Productivity - 430 kg/ha-----------to 1300 kg/ha in 2011- x3 times

40% contribution to oilseed: 25% to edible oil of the country

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7.67 7.638.78 8.68 9.14 9.44 9.37 9.6

0.029 0.086 0.0531.25

3.8

6.2

7.68.4

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6

8

10

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2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

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Year

Adoption of Bt cotton in India

total (mha)

Bt (mha)

Recent Successes- contd

• Revolution in potato production & productivity• Area 0.54 mha in 1950 to 1.8 mha in 2011• Prodn. 1.56mt -------------- to 40 mt in 2011

• Prodn. 28 times: Productivity 3 times

Basmati Rice : Volume of Export – 8 times in 20 yrs

1990 2010 0.25 mt 2.0 mt Export earning increased by 1,000 times ?

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1990-91

1995-96

2000-01

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

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6000

8000

10000

12000

Value of Basmati Export (Rs. in Crores)

2 billion US $

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100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

TaraoriBasmati

Pusa Basmati1

PusaSugandh 2

Pusa RH 10(Hybrid)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Du

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(d

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t/h

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Revolution in Basmati Rice Breeding for Earliness with higher yields

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Single Cross Maize Hybrids in India

• During the last decade, maize production doubled • Maize productivity increased by 80%• Maize has shown fastest growth rate (~8%) during the

last 5 yrs. – highest among cereals• Maize production can further be doubled in next decade • Hybrid coverage to be increased (from current 35%)• QPM will help in reducing protein malnutrition (25% food)• QPM- feed for better conversion ratio in poultry (61%)• QPM through Marker assisted backcross breeding• Baby corn export (1 million US $ in 2008 & 2009)

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Maize Yields, 1961-2009

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Way Forward - Partnership

Past Successes– Rice Biotechnology- Rockefeller Foundation

New Programs– Network Projects in crop improvement

• Maize – MAB for biotic & abiotic stresses-

• Conservation agriculture for raising system productivity and conserving resources

• Rice - Golden rice for β carotene

• Tuber crops for disease-free planting materials• Grain legumes for resistance to stored grain pests

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Acknowledgements

FAO for Invitation

EPSO for sponsoring consultation

Colleagues at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi

&

Indian Council of Agricultural Research

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THANKSIn

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Biotechnology at Crossroads?

• 134 m ha under transgenic crops since 1966 – 46% in developing countries (China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and South Africa)

• Crops: Soybean, Maize, Cotton, Canola• Traits: Insects, Herbicides, Viruses • More than 50 crops and forestry trees are being targeted

currently• Tissue culture for propagation of plating material for

horticultural crops• Which is the path we want to take?• Science-led or otherwise based on emotions

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Bridging the Yield Gap1.  Transfer of Technology  a. Dissemination of HYVs -  Seed production & SRR - very low  

b. Balanced use of fertilizers – 156 kg/ha India against 396 kg/ha in Chinac. Judicious use of water – Increasing WUE

  d. Increasing cropping intensity – 14 mha rice fallows in Eastern Indiae. Diversification with HVC & LS -Increasing prod. per unit area & profitabilityf.  Supply of right input- On time and doorstep  of farmers

2. Raising Productivity of RFAs- Watershed approach3. Farming System Approach- Raising system productivity rather than of component crops3. IPM & IPNM- Biological control & site-specific nutrient management4. Sustainability to Irrigated Areas- Mung bean  in wheat-rice system5. Linking farmers to market- For increasing profitability

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