B. B. Singh

Ex. Assistant Director General(Oilseeds & Pulses)

Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi

I have been involved in developing innovative crops varieties and useful information leading to advancement of genetics and breeding of pulse crops since past 34 years. A total of 14 improved varieties and 13 novel genetic stocks of different pulse crops were developed. Implemented NFSM project of Rs.15.0 crore to double the breeder seed production of pulses in the country.

Of the 14 released varieties, six varieties in different crops such as pigeonpea variety Narendra Arhar 1 mungbean IPM2-3, IPM 2-14, and Meha; urdbean variety NDU 1, lentil NDM 1 are holding positions in top ten varieties . Wide hybridization tool has been extensively resorted to breed innovative plant types having better photo-thermo insensitivity traits in mungbean and urdbean. The programme has been very rewarding in terms of development of superior plant types with desirable traits. Using the derivatives of wide crosses five varieties of mungbean (IPM 99-125, IPM02-14 and IPM 02-3, IPM 410-3, IPM205-7) and an urdbean VBG04-008 with several desirable attributes of such as balanced vegetative growth, improved photo thermo insensitivity were released for cultivation besides; derivatives of wide crosses are being used by different centre to develop superior cultivars. A new photo- thermo insensitive mungbean variety IPM205-7 maturing just in 52-55 days with yield potential of 1.0-1.2 tones/ha released for the first time for rice-wheat system after the harvest of wheat and rice-rice system. The impact of these varieties spacialy in revolutionizing the mungbean cultivation in newer niches, rabi/spring is phenomenal. There has been an increase of 64% in area, 154% in production and 56% in yield of spring/summer mungbean in 2014-15 over 2009-10 mainly attributed to the recently released varieties IPM 2-3 and IPM 2-14.Tha share of these varieties in seed chain is more than 30 percent.

64% increase in area, 154% in production and 56% in yield in 2014-15 over 2009-10

During the period at Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi as Assistant Director General (Oilseeds & Pulses) and additional charge of ADG (Seed) from 6 months I tried to streamline the activities related to the Institutes and All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs). Coordination and monitoring of the expenditure besides, issue of administrative support for R&D activities, infrastructure development/establishment of Regional Stations and human resource development related activities were all attended as per needs. The data base on cadre strength, profile of individual scientist of each Institute and crop science technology were also compiled and published. A road map strategy for enhancing indigenous oilseeds and pulses production to achieve self-sufficiency has been prepared and submitted to PMO for consideration. A mega project for increasing indigenous production and achieving self sufficiency in pulses has been implemented in the year 2016-17. which helped in the increasing the indigenous pulse production from 15-16 million tones to 23-24 million tones. Looking to the incurraging results of the project, Government has initiated the similar programme in oilseeds also.