NBA releases over ₹24 Lakh as Benefit Sharing to Farmers, Research Institutions and State Biodiversity Boards

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released over ₹24 lakh as Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) payments to beneficiaries across 11 states, a family‑run Murrah buffalo farm in Haryana (₹4.30 lakh), three national research institutions – ICAR‑NBPGR (₹4.61 lakh), ICRISAT (₹5.36 lakh) and ICAR‑NBFGR (₹0.14 lakh) – and the State Biodiversity Boards of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Odisha and Tamil Nadu (₹0.13‑₹3.22 lakh each). The payments relate to access to Murrah buffalo breeding stock, numerous crop and fish varieties, and cotton genetic resources. Under the NBA’s ABS framework, the funds are to be used for biodiversity conservation, research and capacity‑building, reflecting India’s commitment to fair benefit‑sharing for those who conserve biological resources.