(a) whether the Government has fixed any fresh target for the agricultural production by using radiation technology in next two years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of seed varieties developed through radiation technique during last
one year;
(d) whether the Government proposes to use radiation technology for preservation of food articles; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (INDEPENDENT CHARGE), PMO,
PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS.
(SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN):
(a)to (e) The Department of Atomic Energy does not fix any target for increasing
agriculture production using radiation technology. However, it has been carrying out
extensive research in developing new mutant crop varieties, especially oil seeds and pulses.
39 crop varieties developed at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) were released for the use
of farmers through various agricultural universities in the country. BARC on an average every
year releases 2 to 3 new varieties of crop for commercial cultivation at national level. BARC
has also developed technology for preservation of food, such as spices, onion, potato, rice,
mangoes, etc., by radiation processing. It has two plants, one at Navi Mumbai and the other
at Lasalgaon, near Nasik, Maharashtra. A breakthrough has been achieved in demonstrating
commercial feasibility of radiation technology in overcoming quarantine barrier to
international trade and obtaining market access. The export of radiation processed mangoes
to US began in 2008. The success in this area has resulted in the Department of Atomic Energy
signing more than 24 MoUs with entrepreneurs for setting up radiation processing facilities in
private and cooperative sectors.