The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released Rs 8.22 crore to three research institutions and 33 State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) as part of an Access and Benefit‑Sharing (ABS) payment received from the seed firm Pioneer Overseas Corporation.
Key Developments
- NBA transferred Rs 2.47 crore to research institutions that conserved and supplied Indian rice varieties.
- The Indian rice (Oryza sativa) varieties were used by the company to develop commercial hybrids.
- Rs 5.75 crore was allocated to 33 SBBs and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils based on each region’s rice‑growing area.
- Uttar Pradesh received the highest state share of Rs 73.26 lakh, followed by West Bengal, Telangana and Odisha.
Important Facts
- Research institutions receiving funds: ICAR‑Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad (Rs 2.43 crore) and Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand (Rs 3.26 lakh).
- Top‑10 state allocations (in Rs): Uttar Pradesh 73,26,225; West Bengal 64,94,795; Telangana 50,59,674; Odisha 48,09,040; Chhattisgarh 45,90,940; Punjab 37,14,926; Bihar 36,93,237; Madhya Pradesh 36,16,118; Assam 27,78,664; Andhra Pradesh 25,88,278.
- NBA has so far collected about Rs 83 crore from the agriculture and seed sector alone; total ABS receipts exceed Rs 162 crore.
- The payment supports the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 13 and several Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2, 12, 15, 17).
Exam Relevance
Understanding the role of the Nagoya Protocol and the domestic mechanism of ABS is essential for GS 2 (environmental governance) and GS 3 (agricultural economics). The distribution of funds illustrates how India translates international commitments into concrete financial flows to research bodies and state agencies, a topic frequently asked in essay and case‑study questions.
Way Forward
- Research institutes should strengthen germplasm banks, document traditional knowledge and expand training for farmers.
- State Biodiversity Boards need transparent monitoring of fund utilisation and should link projects with climate‑resilient rice varieties.
- NBA could develop a digital dashboard to track ABS payments, ensuring accountability and encouraging more private sector collaborations.
- Policymakers must align state‑level actions with the broader goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework and the SDGs.