ICAR Inaugurates India’s First Speed Breeding Facility for Mustard

1 July 2025, Bharatpur

In a major boost to oilseed research, a state-of-the-art Speed Breeding Facility Center was inaugurated at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Mustard Research, Bharatpur by Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary (DARE) and Director General, ICAR. The facility is a key milestone under the genome editing initiative launched by ICAR for various crops, including rapeseed-mustard, aimed at accelerating crop improvement across the country.

Addressing the scientists and staff at the institute, Dr. Jat emphasized ICAR’s commitment to realizing the Prime Minister's vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. He stated that the Speed Breeding Centre would transform mustard research by enabling the development of four crop generations per year, thereby significantly shortening breeding cycles. Highlighting the goal of achieving an average mustard productivity of 20 quintals per hectare by 2030, Dr. Jat called for collaborative, problem-focused research and efficient resource utilization. He urged scientists to develop an action plan to expand rapeseed-mustard cultivation in the North Eastern states to ensure wider farmer benefits.

Dr. D.K. Yadav, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR, commended the institute's achievements and urged focused research on critical issues such as orobanchae and stem rot in mustard.

Dr. Sanjeev Gupta, Assistant Director General (Oilseeds and Pulses), ICAR, stressed the importance of increasing oil content and developing early-maturing varieties.

Dr. Vijay Veer Singh, Director, ICAR-IIMR, presented the institute’s progress and highlighted the significance of the new facility. He emphasised that the speed breeding technology allows for rapid crop development by manipulating environmental conditions like temperature, light intensity, and day length. This advancement will expedite the development of high-yielding, disease-resistant, and quality mustard varieties, making cutting-edge technologies available to farmers more quickly. Dr. Singh highlighted that the facility is the first of its kind for mustard research in India and will serve as a national model under ICAR.

The project prioritizes genome editing for traits such as resistance to parasitic weeds like orobanchae, along with improved productivity and quality aiming to make India self-reliant in oilseed production.

The event was also attended by Dr. P.K. Rai, Director, ICAR-NIBSM, Raipur, and Shri Deshraj Singh, Additional Director, Department of Agriculture, Bharatpur Division.

On the occasion, FSSAI and Trademark Certificates for the institute’s oil production were released, along with several publications. A plantation drive was also conducted by the dignitaries.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Mustard Research, Bharatpur)