NBA releases Rs 8.22 crore to rice research institutions and rice-growing States

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 8.22 crore as an access‑and‑benefit‑sharing (ABS) payment received from M/s Pioneer Overseas Corporation for using Indian rice varieties to develop hybrids. Rs 2.47 crore went to three research institutions – ICAR‑Indian Institute of Rice Research (Rs 2.43 crore) and Govind Ballabh Pant University (Rs 3.26 lakh) – for germplasm conservation and related activities. Rs 5.75 crore was allocated to 33 State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils based on rice‑growing area, with Uttar Pradesh receiving the highest share (over Rs 73 lakh). The funds will support seed collection, germplasm conservation, ecosystem restoration, documentation of traditional knowledge and farmer support, contributing to the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and several SDGs.