2 days ago
India Biodiversity Authority Disburses Rs 5.68 Crore Under Benefit-Sharing
India has a system for sharing money earned from using the country’s plants and other biological resources.
The National Biodiversity Authority has distributed Rs 5.68 crore through this system.
Much of the money came from companies that accessed okra, cucumber and watermelon resources.
Okra generated the largest share, at Rs 3.51 crore.
The money was sent to biodiversity boards in states and Union Territories.
Gujarat, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh were among the largest recipients.
Because the resources were obtained through markets and traders, they could not be linked to particular farmers or communities.
Instead, the money was shared among states and territories where the crops are grown.
The overall amount distributed under the mechanism has crossed Rs 191 crore.
The National Biodiversity Authority disbursed Rs 5.68 crore under the Access and Benefit-Sharing mechanism.
Gujarat received Rs 88.79 lakh, West Bengal Rs 78.08 lakh and Madhya Pradesh Rs 64.90 lakh.
Okra accounted for Rs 3.51 crore, covering 139 varieties and 28 hybrids across 32 state and Union Territory boards.
Watermelon and cucumber resources included 662 varieties and 15 hybrids, and 1,009 varieties and 14 hybrids, respectively.
Total disbursements by the Authority have now exceeded Rs 191 crore, including funds for a national research institution.
- Who
- The National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards, Union Territory Biodiversity Councils, companies and the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory.
- What
- The Authority disbursed Rs 5.68 crore under the Access and Benefit-Sharing mechanism.
- Where
- Funds were distributed to state and Union Territory biodiversity bodies across India and to the National Chemical Laboratory in Pune.
- When
- The announcement was made in an official statement issued on Sunday; no calendar date was provided.
- Why
- The payments share benefits arising from the use of biological resources and support biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, institutional capacity and related community activities.
Key facts
- Latest disbursement
- Rs 5.68 crore
- Total disbursed so far
- More than Rs 191 crore
- Largest component
- Okra: Rs 3.51 crore for 139 varieties and 28 hybrids
- Largest state recipients listed
- Gujarat: Rs 88.79 lakh; West Bengal: Rs 78.08 lakh; Madhya Pradesh: Rs 64.90 lakh
- Other resources
- Watermelon: 662 varieties and 15 hybrids; cucumber: 1,009 varieties and 14 hybrids
- Companies named
- Nunhems India Private Limited, East West Seeds India Private Limited and Bayer Science and Innovation Private Limited
- Research recipient
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory’s National Culture of Industrial Microorganisms in Pune, from an amount received from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
Quotes
National Biodiversity Authority
India’s statutory authority overseeing biodiversity-related access and benefit-sharing
“The funds have been channelled to State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs), Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) and a national research institution, primarily in relation to Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), besides specified microbial and agricultural biological resources.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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