The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) through its constituent unit Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has developed 72 improved crop varieties using radiation-induced mutagenesis combined with cross breeding. These varieties have been released and notified for commercial cultivation across India in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs).
The crop variety breakdown includes 17 varieties in groundnut, 10 in rice, 9 each in mungbean and mustard, 8 in urdbean, 5 in pigeonpea, 3 in sorghum, 2 each in cowpea, wheat and soybean, and one variety each in banana, sesame, linseed, sunflower and jute. These varieties exhibit desirable traits such as higher yield, larger seed size, early maturity, and climate resilience including drought, heat, and salinity tolerance along with disease resistance. The genetic modifications induced through radiation do not cause adverse effects, and all varieties undergo thorough multi-location evaluations over years before commercial release.
DAE has undertaken extensive initiatives to promote adoption of these Trombay varieties, including large-scale quality seed production in collaboration with SAUs and distribution to State Seed Corporations, agricultural departments, national institutes, KVKs, Farmer Producer Organizations, farmer cooperatives, NGOs, seed companies, and farmers across multiple states. The department participates in Kisan Melas, field days, provides technical guidance and training on cultivation practices, and conducts exhibitions, outreach programs, field demonstrations, and public awareness programs on peaceful uses of atomic energy.
For food preservation, DAE has developed radiation-based technologies to reduce post-harvest losses and extend shelf life of agricultural products including vegetables, fruits, pulses, and spices. These technologies have been transferred to private entrepreneurs on a non-exclusive basis for commercialization. The Government of India has implemented policy measures to expand radiation technology for food preservation, offering incentives under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) scheme for setting up multiproduct food irradiation units under the 'Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure' in 2024-25.
Three food irradiation facilities have been commissioned in the private sector in Uttar Pradesh. DAE maintains research collaborations and MoUs with State Agricultural Universities in 15 states including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, as well as with six ICAR institutes specializing in groundnut, soybean, rapeseed mustard, oilseeds, pulses, and banana research. The department also funds research projects on mutation breeding and food preservation through the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS).