The National Biodiversity Authority has disbursed Rs 8.22 crore to research institutions and state biodiversity boards, marking one of the largest single access and benefit-sharing (ABS) disbursements for rice. The funds will be used for germplasm conservation, seed collection maintenance, and research activities.
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has made one of the largest single access and benefit-sharing (ABS) disbursements, totaling Rs 8.22 crore, to three research institutions and 33 State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils for the use of Indian rice varieties in hybrid development.
The funds were received from M/s Pioneer Overseas Corporation, an international seed company. Of the total amount, Rs 2.47 crore has been released to research institutions that conserved and shared the rice varieties with the company. ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, has received the largest share of Rs 2.43 crore, while Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand, has received Rs 3.26 lakh for the specific rice variety it contributed.
An amount of Rs 5.75 crore has been released to 33 State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils based on the rice-growing area of each State and Union Territory, as listed in the Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Uttar Pradesh has received the highest share of over Rs 73 lakh.
The top 10 State-wise allocations are as follows:
State Biodiversity Board
1. Uttar Pradesh – Rs 73,24,659
2. West Bengal – Rs 68,76,245
3. Odisha – Rs 56,50,326
4. Andhra Pradesh – Rs 41,46,106
5. Bihar – Rs 34,49,458
6. Tamil Nadu – Rs 32,70,749
7. Assam – Rs 26,58,677
8. Punjab – Rs 19,65,546
9. Chhattisgarh – Rs 19,10,558
10. Kerala – Rs 18,38,239
Research institutions will utilize the funds to strengthen germplasm conservation, maintain seed collections, and support research and training. The State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils will use their allocations for approved conservation activities, including protection of native crop diversity, ecosystem restoration, documentation of traditional knowledge, and support for local farmers and knowledge holders.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
