NBA Releases Rs 8.22 Crore in Benefit-Sharing Funds to Rice Research Institutions & States

New Delhi, Aug 3 (KNN) The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released Rs 8.22 crore to three research institutions and 33 State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils under the access and benefit-sharing (ABS) mechanism for the use of Indian rice varieties in developing and commercialising hybrids.

The funds were received from M/s Pioneer Overseas Corporation for using Indian rice (Oryza sativa) varieties. Of the total amount, Rs 2.47 crore has been allocated to research institutions that conserved and supplied the rice varieties, while Rs 5.75 crore has been distributed among 33 State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils based on rice-growing areas.       

The ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, received Rs 2.43 crore, while Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand, received Rs 3.26 lakh for the specific rice variety it contributed.

Uttar Pradesh received the highest allocation among States at Rs 73.26 lakh, followed by West Bengal with Rs 64.95 lakh, Telangana with Rs 50.60 lakh, Odisha with Rs 48.09 lakh and Chhattisgarh with Rs 45.91 lakh.

The research institutions will use the funds for germplasm conservation, seed collection maintenance, research and training. 

State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils will utilise their allocations for approved conservation activities, including crop diversity protection, ecosystem restoration, documentation of traditional knowledge and support for local farmers and knowledge holders.

The NBA has received around Rs 83 crore in ABS payments from the agriculture and seed sector so far, while total ABS disbursements across sectors have exceeded Rs 162 crore.

(KNN Bureau)