High-Yielding Crop Varieties: Key to Agricultural Sustainability and Food Security

According to WHO, India’s Global Hunger Index number is 111 out of 125 countries. The GHI score of India is 28.7 on a 100-point scale where 0 is the best and 100 is the worst. It gives an exact idea about the severity of the hunger problem.

The world's population is increasing at an alarming rate. Though we live in the modern era where luxuries prevail, numerous people are not able to fulfill even their basic needs. Access to sufficient and healthy food is still a serious issue in many countries.

To tackle this, it is necessary to produce healthy crops that are high in nutrition in a larger quantity. It can be done only by scientific research and innovations.

In this blog, we will discuss the high-yielding varieties (HYV) of crops in detail.

PM Modi released 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient crop varieties.

• The Science Behind High-Yielding Varieties

  High-yielding varieties are produced by combining the best traits of different plant species. These breeding programs involve cross-breeding, genetic modifications, and advanced selection techniques. Plants produced in such ways are resistant to pests, diseases, and water stress. These plants produce a higher yield.

  Key Characteristics of High-Yielding Varieties

  Increased Biomass Production:

  High-yielding varieties increase production in a limited geographic area. Yield produced using such seeds is superior quantitatively and qualitatively. It can be a sustainable way to feed the growing population.

  Shorter Growth Cycles:

  HYV crops have shorter growth cycles than wild varieties. It allows farmers to harvest more crops per year. It makes agriculture a profitable business for them.

  Disease and Pest Resistance:

  Generally local species are resistant to pests, diseases, and their environment. Introducing genes of such species in HYV crops equips them to withstand these factors. Also, it reduces pollution by less or no use of chemical pesticides.

  Adaptability to Environmental Stress:

  HYV can withstand extreme weather conditions such as heavy rainfall, water scarcity, etc. It reduces the uncertainty, though the weather conditions are not favorable.

  Examples of High-Yielding Varieties

  Researchers have produced several HYVs. These have benefited humans in fulfilling their need for food. Some examples of HYVs that significantly contributed to increased food production are as follows.

  Rice - IR8 and Its Successors

  Wheat - Sonora 64 and Semi-Dwarf Varieties

  Maize - Hybrid Corn Varieties

  Cotton - Bt Cotton

  The Benefits of High-Yielding Varieties

  Increased Food Production:

  HYVs have significantly increased food production in the areas where arable land is limited. Also, these varieties have helped to reduce other agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, water, and manpower.

  Economic Gains for Farmers:

  By growing HYC crops, farmers are growing more crops using fewer resources. This has helped them to earn a good income with less investment. So, these seeds are solving a macro concern of poverty at the root level.

  Efficient Land Use:

  HYVs help farmers to use their land more efficiently. With higher yields per hectare, there is less pressure to clear additional land for farming. It leads to the protection of natural ecosystems and biodiversity.

  Reduced Hunger and Malnutrition:

  HYV crops have increased the overall production of food. Also, these crops are enriched with a good amount of nutrients. Due to this, HYVs have played a significant role in reducing hunger and malnutrition in many parts of the world.

  Challenges of High-Yielding Varieties

  Dependency on Chemical Inputs:

  Many HYVs require substantial inputs of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigations to achieve their full potential. This can affect the environment such as soil and water pollution.

  Loss of Crop Diversity:

  Wide use of a few HYV crops in a specific region may lead to a reduction in the diversity of the crops. Wild varieties of the crops may become extinct due to the wide use of HYVs.

  Access and Equity Issues:

  All farmers do not have equal access to expensive HYVs and their supplementary needs. So, they will be deprived of the benefits of these high-yielding varieties.

  All farmers do not have equal access to expensive HYVs and their supplementary needs. So, they will be deprived of the benefits of these high-yielding varieties.

  High-yielding varieties of crops have undoubtedly transformed global agriculture, offering a powerful tool to enhance food security, boost farm productivity, and improve the livelihoods of millions of farmers. However, the successful adoption of HYVs requires careful management to ensure the benefits are sustainable and accessible to all. So, let’s utilize them wisely and be blessed by a greener mother earth.