(a) whether the Government has drawn up any plan/programme for the use of bio-technology and other new technological developments in the field of Agriculture to revolutionise the productivity in the country; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
(a) whether the Government has drawn up any plan/programme for the use of bio-technology and other new technological developments in the field of Agriculture to revolutionise the productivity in the country; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) & (b): The National Policy for Farmers, 2007 acknowledges that new technologies which
can help enhance productivity per unit of land and water are needed for overcoming the prevailing
technology fatigue. Frontier technologies like biotechnology, Information & Communication
Technology, space applications and nano-technology provide opportunities for improving productivity
on a sustainable basis.
The National Biotechnology Development Strategy (NBDS) was approved by the Union Government
in 2007 after a nationwide consultation process with multiple stakeholders. The Department of
Biotechnology is undertaking Research & Development (R&D) in biotechnology including agricultural
biotechnology. The focus of R & D in agriculture is on three main staple crops viz. rice, wheat &
Maize, followed by pearlmillet, groundnut, pigeonpea and cassava.