Lok Sabha Question No. 703 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Biotech Kisan and Cattle Genomics Scheme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, P.R. SUNDARAM, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 703 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/02/2018

## Biotech Kisan and Cattle Genomics Scheme

703.  DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRI P. R. SUNDARAM:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## विज्ञान और प्रोद्योविकी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is monitoring the development under the Biotech Kisan and Cattle Genomics scheme;
- (b) if so, the details with regard to the number of farmers educated and incorporated as part of the scheme, district and State-wise during the last three years;
- (c) the key achievements of the scheme since its inception; and
- (d) the details with regard to the funds allocated to the scheme, State-wise since the inception of the scheme?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (Y. S. CHOWDARY)

## विज्ञान और प्रोद्योविकी तथा पृथ्वी विज्ञान राज्य मंत्री

( िाई . एस . चौधरी )

- (a) Yes  Madam,  the  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT)  is  monitoring  the  development under  Biotech-Krishi  Innovation  Science  Application  Network  (Biotech-KISAN)  and  Cattle Genomics schemes, which will benefit the farming communities.
- (b) and (c) The Biotech-KISAN scheme has been initiated by DBT during the current financial year  (2017-18)  with  an  overall  aim  to  work  with  small  and  marginal  farmers  especially  the woman farmers  for  better  agriculture  productivity  through  scientific  intervention  and  evolving best  farming  practices  by  linking  available  science  and  technology  to  the  farm  by  first

understanding the problem of the local farmer and provide solutions to those problems. During the year, a Biotech-KISAN Hub has been established in July, 2017 at Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO), Dehradun to cover the agro-climatic zone of Western  Himalayan  Region.  Under  this  Biotech-KISAN  Hub,  three  Sub-Hubs  have  also  been established  at  Almora,  Chakrata  and  Chamoli  in  Uttrakhand  state.  The  district-wise  details  of farmers educated under the programme are as follows:

| S. No.         | District       | State          | Activities covered for Training-cum- Demonstration   |   No. of Farmers |
|----------------|----------------|----------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------|
| 1.             | Dehradun       | Uttarakhand    | Protected Vegetable cultivation                      |               14 |
| 1.             | Dehradun       | Uttarakhand    | Bee keeping                                          |               15 |
| 1.             | Dehradun       | Uttarakhand    | Value addition in Horticulture produce               |               18 |
| 1.             | Dehradun       | Uttarakhand    | Biotechnological intervention in Agriculture         |               48 |
| 2.             | Almora         | Uttarakhand    | Protected Vegetable cultivation                      |               20 |
| 2.             | Almora         | Uttarakhand    | Bee keeping                                          |               15 |
| 2.             | Almora         | Uttarakhand    | Value addition in Horticulture produce               |               30 |
| 2.             | Almora         | Uttarakhand    | Biotechnological intervention in Agriculture         |               44 |
| 3.             | Chamoli        | Uttarakhand    | Protected Vegetable cultivation                      |               12 |
| 3.             | Chamoli        | Uttarakhand    | Bee keeping                                          |               20 |
| 3.             | Chamoli        | Uttarakhand    | Value addition in Horticulture produce               |               16 |
| 3.             | Chamoli        | Uttarakhand    | Biotechnological intervention in Agriculture         |               52 |
| Total farmers: | Total farmers: | Total farmers: |                                                      |              304 |

The proposals for establishment of five more Biotech-KISAN Hubs in five agro-climatic zones  viz.  Central  Plain  Zone,  Lower  Gangetic  Plains  Region,  Southern  Plateau  and  Hills, Eastern  Himalayan  Region  and  East  Coast  Plains  and  Hills  have  also  been  developed  by  the Department.

The Cattle Genomics scheme has also been recently initiated by DBT in December, 2017 in  which  five  indigenous  cattle  breeds  have  been  identified  for  genome  sequencing.  The biological samples of these breeds are being collected from different farms.

(d) The state-wise allocation of funds has not been made to these two schemes. However the Biotech-KISAN Hub at HESCO, Dehradun has been funded at a total cost of ₹ 1.18 crores for a period  of  two  years.  The  Cattle  Genomics  scheme  has  been  funded  at  National  Institute  of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad with the total cost of ₹ 16.49 crores for a period of two years.

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