Question : ACTION PLAN ON BIO-TECHNOLOGY

(a) whether the Government has a proposal to sanction an action-plan on Bio- Technology in the country as reported in the Hindi daily Navbharat Times dated August 11, 2004;

(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to provide improved seeds with the help of this technology;

(c) if so, the effects of said action plan on small farmers;

(d) the names of the States likely to be included in the said action plan;

(e) whether the farmers of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are likely to be included in the said action plan; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE && TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) : No, Sir. However, at present the Government is in the process of evolving a National Biotechnology Policy covering the relevant sectors.

(b) : The Government is already supporting research programmes to improve the productivity of various crops with the help of this technology. As improved seeds are developed through research, the Government would consider to provide these to farmers after assessing their agronomical advantages and evaluating biosafety in collaboration with concerned Ministries.

(c) : In general, the technology is likely to benefit small as well as big farmers in scale-neutral mode.

(d), (e) & (f): Since no Action Plan has been formulated, the States to be covered can not be identified as yet. However, the improved seeds when available shall be accessible to all the relevant States.