In a written reply in Lok Sabha Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said to promote agricultural research ICAR has developed a country wide network of 103 Agricultural Research Institutes, 75 Agricultural Universities including 3 Central Agricultural Universities and 11 Agriculture Technology Application Research Institutes.
These are being ably supported by a network of Krishi Vigyan Kendras at the district level mandated with technology assessment and demonstration for wider application and capacity development, Tomar said.
The institutes are developing and promoting high yielding varieties and technologies for higher production, reducing farm input (manpower, seed, fertilizer and water) and improving the income of farmers, he stated in House.
During the last 6 years, to accelerate the development of new and improved crops, improved crop health and sustainable farming practices Nanaji Deshmukh Plant Phenomics Center for research was established at IARI, Pusa, New Delhi, he informed members.