Lok Sabha Question No. 1156 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Biotech-Kisan and Cattle Genomics
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: R. PARTHIPAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY) (DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY)

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED/UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1156 TO BE ASWERED ON 23.11.2016

## Biotech-Kisan and Cattle Genomics

1156. SHRI R. PARTHIPAN

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched two new schemes Biotech-KISAN and  Cattle  Genomics  recently  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with major features of both of these schemes;
- (b) whether this will boost rural economy;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the schemes are being implemented in all the States; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences

(Sh. Y.S. Chowdary)

- (a) Yes  Madam,  the  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT),  Ministry  of  Science  and Technology  has  launched  two  new  schemes  on  Biotech-KISAN  and  Cattle Genomics.

The Biotech-Krishi  Innovation  Science  Application  Network  (Biotech-KISAN) aims to understand  the  problems of water, soil, seed and market faced by the farmers and provide simple solutions to them. The scheme will be implemented in 15 agro-climatic zones of India in phased manner with the objective:

- -The working  together,  in  close  conjunction,  of  scientists  and  farmers  is  the only way to improve the working conditions of small and marginal farmers.
- -Linking  available  science  and  technology  to  the  farm by  first  understanding the problem of the local farmer and provide solutions to those problems.
- -This programme aims to work with small and marginal farmers especially the woman farmer for better agriculture productivity through scientific intervention and evolving best farming practices in the Indian context.

## The Cattle Genomics scheme :

Livestock contributes significantly to the livelihood of rural poor in our country and has  enormous  potential  to  reduce  poverty.  There  is  a  predicted  increase  in demand  for  animal  food  products  in  India  by  2020.  Genetic  improvement  of livestock  through  traditional  selection  for  increasing  livestock  productivity  has major limitations. To overcome these, genomic selection has played a crucial role in livestock industry globally.

The  Govt.  of  India  has,  therefore,  decided  to  work  on  genome  sequencing  of indigenous cattle breeds and development of high density SNP chips representing SNPs from all registered cattle breeds of India by involving various stake holders. This will reduce the cost and time interval of breeding programme in  future  and  productivity  of  indigenous  cattle  will  be  enhanced. Initial  work  on cattle genomics will be carried out in selective research institutions.

- (b) and (c)  Yes, the schemes are designed to increase productivity and yield from farm by active scientific  interventions  and  education  of  scientific  solutions.  The Biotech-KISAN will also provide fellowships to farmers.

(d)  and (e) The Biotech-KISAN will be implemented in the 15 agro-climatic zones, which will cover all the states. The work on cattle genomics will be carried out initially in selected research institutions.