Question : Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture

(a) whether there is an urgent need for application of biotechnology in various areas of agriculture for the economic well being of farmers and for food security of the nation;

(b) if so, whether the Government has formulated any policy/schemes in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is undertaking any Research & Development (R&D) in biotechnology application in the agriculture sector;

(d) if so, the details thereof including the funds allocated for the purpose during the last three years and the outcome thereof; and

(e) whether a number of centres are involved in the biotechnology research in the agriculture sector and if so, the details thereof including the achievements made in development and commercialization of agro-products and other steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) & (b): Yes, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) funds R&D in Agriculture and allied areas through its scheme “Biotechnology Research & Development” implemented in R&D institutions, Ministries/Departments; Central/ State/ Private universities; NGO’s and private sector.
In addition, in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the use of biotechnology has been made as an integral part of the Crop Improvement programme both in field and horticultural crops and also in animal science and fisheries. ICAR established a Biotechnology Centre in 1985 in Indian Agricultural Research Institute which was promoted to “National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology (ICAR-NRCPB)” as an independent Institute in 1993, with a vision to impart the biotechnology advantage to the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). ICAR also launched a Network Project on Transgenics in Crops (NPTC) in 2005 under the 10th Plan for promotion of biotechnology research and development in India. During 12th Plan, ICAR has set up the Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi, Jharkhand with wide scope viz., (i) molecular breeding for accelerated improvement of specific traits using genes available in the germplasm of that plant, livestock or fish species; (ii) molecular diagnostics and vaccines for effective control of livestock diseases; (iii) genetically modified organisms incorporating foreign genes of interest into a target organism; and (iv) nano-biotechnology for biosensor and delivery devices for precision farming. Further, there are Biotechnology Department in all the major ICAR institutes and State Agricultural Universities dealing with living commodities, plants, animals, fishes and microbes.

(c) & (d): Yes, Madam. DBT has supported 103 individual projects, 23 networks and 8 Centres of Excellence (Annexure-I) in Agriculture Biotechnology Research operating under various Institutes and Universities during last three years with budgetary allocation of Rs. 171.0 crores. ICAR has released Rs. 183.0 crores for the various Institutes/projects focussing on Biotechnology research (Annexure-II). Continuous efforts have led to number of basic and applied outcome in the form of technology, varieties etc. during last three years (Annexure-III).

(e) Yes, most of these projects are multi-institutional involving number of ICAR Institutes, State/Central Agricultural Universities, and other Institutes/Universities with agriculture faculty. Details of number of centres involved and achievements are given at Annexure-I, II and III.

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