HD 3386 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Agriculture)

Context: The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) recently introduced a new high-yielding wheat seed variety, HD 3386.

HD 3386

• About: It is resistant to yellow, and leaf rust diseases mostly reported in the key wheat growing region of northwest region – Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
• Approved by: Central seed committee of the agriculture ministry.
• Objective: The new wheat seed variety is aimed at replacing the currently used seed HD2967 also developed by IARI in 2010 and was sown in around 25% of the total wheat sown area of 34 million hectare in the country last season.
• Availability: A new wheat seed variant will be available to farmers on a large scale in the next two years.

Importance of Wheat as a Rabi Crop

• Crop for Winter Season: Wheat serves as a crucial winter crop, known as rabi crop, due to its cultivation during the winter months.
• Major Wheat-Growing States: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Gujarat.
• Government Intervention through MSP: Government ensures price stability by purchasing wheat from farmers at a Minimum Support Price (MSP).
• Role in Food Security Programs: Procured wheat is utilized in government schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).

Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)

• About: It stands as India’s premier institution for research, higher education, and training in agricultural science.
• Administration: It is under the administration of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), adding to its prestige and authority.
• Contributions: IARI has significantly contributed to both science and society through its exemplary research, innovative technology generation, and the nurturing of human resources.