- Breaking the yield ceiling and developing superior genotypes with enhanced yield
- Development of multiple resistant inbred lines to wilt, root rot, gray mold, sucking pests and capsule borer
- Development of plant types with synchronous maturity and suitable for mechanical harvesting
- Development of best agronomic practices for economically viable multiple cropping systems
- Development of hybrids/ varieties for high seed yield (2.5 to 3.0 t/ha) and high oil content (> 40 %) with tolerance to biotic (powdery mildew, Alternaria helianthi and necrosis disease) and abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, heat)
- Development of short duration hybrids (85-90 days) for spring season cropping systems in Punjab, Haryana and UP (W); tail end regions of irrigation commands; tide over late onset or early cessation of monsoon in southern India and rabi summer in WB & Odisha
- Developing climate resilient conservation agriculture practices for sunflower based cropping systems
- Expansion of area in non-traditional regions such as AP, Odisha, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Western UP and WB through FLDs
- Development of hybrids/ varieties for high seed yield (2-2.5 t/ ha with >32% oil,) short duration varieties/hybrids (90-100 days) for late sowing and paddy fallows, specialty types varieties- high oleic safflower, dual purpose safflower with high petal yield
- Development of region-specific sustainable crop production technology, integrated pest and disease management
- Undertake basic and breeder seed production of commercial varieties and refinement of seed production agronomy
- Bringing additional safflower area through inter-cropping system in traditional areas and non-traditional areas such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
- Development of short duration high yielding bold seeded sesame varieties with photo and thermo-insensitivity, high oil content, low FFA content, shattering resistance and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses
- Expansion of sesame and niger to non-traditional regions by developing variety/hybrid(s) with crop production technologies suitable for prevailing cropping systems such as sesame in kharif (fallow), and rice fallow regions and also in summer season
- Development and refinement of INM, IWM, IPM and IDM technology
- Large scale on-farm demonstrations of new technology to bridge yield gap