The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed ₹8.22 crore in one of the largest single access and benefit-sharing (ABS) disbursements for rice, received from international seed company Pioneer Overseas Corporation for using Indian rice varieties (Oryza sativa) to develop and commercialize hybrids. The funds were distributed to three research institutions and 33 State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils.
Research institutions received ₹2.47 crore for conserving and sharing rice varieties, with ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad receiving the largest share of ₹2.43 crore, while Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand received ₹3.26 lakh for its specific rice variety contribution.
States received ₹5.75 crore allocated based on rice-growing area data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics. Uttar Pradesh received the highest allocation of ₹73,26,225, followed by West Bengal (₹64,94,795), Telangana (₹50,59,674), Odisha (₹48,09,040), Chhattisgarh (₹45,90,940), Punjab (₹37,14,926), Bihar (₹36,93,237), Madhya Pradesh (₹36,16,118), Assam (₹27,78,664), and Andhra Pradesh (₹25,88,278). Even states with smaller rice-growing areas like Sikkim and Andaman and Nicobar Islands received proportionate allocations.
The research institutions will use funds for germplasm conservation, seed collection maintenance, and research and training activities. State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils will utilize allocations for approved conservation activities including native crop diversity protection, ecosystem restoration, traditional knowledge documentation, and support for local farmers and knowledge holders.
This disbursement reflects India's commitment to fair and equitable benefit-sharing under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The NBA has collected approximately ₹83 crore in ABS payments from the agriculture and seed sector alone, with total ABS disbursements across all sectors exceeding ₹162 crore. The initiative contributes to Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and supports Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).