Discuss the role of ICAR in advancing climate-resilient and biofortified crop varieties. How does this contribute to India's food and nutritional security?

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), an autonomous body under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, has since 1929 anchored India's crop-improvement effort [2]. Its recent varietal output shows a decisive shift from yield-maximisation alone towards climate adaptation and nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

ICAR's role in climate-resilient varieties

• Scale of varietal development: 386 improved varieties across 44 crops were developed in the past year, of which 94% are climate-resilient [1].
• Targeted stress tolerance: new rice varieties for saline and alkaline soils address land degradation and coastal salinity [1].
• Institutional depth: a network of 113 institutes and 74 agricultural universities enables agro-ecology-specific breeding [2].
• Beyond crops: an indigenous African Swine Fever vaccine and a Digital Swine Disease Atlas extend resilience to livestock [1].

ICAR's role in biofortification

• 29 biofortified varieties enriched in iron, zinc, protein and vitamin A were developed in the year [1].
• Biofortification is agronomic rather than supplement-based — nutrients reach households through the existing cropping and PDS chain, needing no behavioural change.

Contribution to food and nutritional security

• Production stability: stress-tolerant seeds protect output against erratic monsoons, cutting the yield volatility that drives food-price shocks.
• Hidden hunger: biofortified staples tackle micronutrient deficiency, complementing POSHAN-type nutrition interventions.
• Farm incomes: ICAR research generated an estimated ₹1.70 lakh crore in additional economic value, with about ₹55,000 crore in research returns [1].
• Diffusion: technologies reached nearly 1 crore farmers directly, and 72 MoUs with 51 industry partners are speeding seed multiplication [1].

Thus ICAR converts laboratory science into field-level resilience, making it central to both availability and nutritional adequacy of food. The task ahead is to strengthen last-mile extension through KVKs, expand seed-replacement rates, and mainstream biofortified staples into public procurement — aligning agricultural research with SDG-2 (Zero Hunger) and the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision of a climate-secure, well-nourished India.