National Biodiversity Authority releases Rs. 15.52 Cr ABS Proceeds from Mustard Genetic Resources

Amount to be shared among 26 State Biodiversity Boards and 3 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils based on Mustard cultivation area

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released Rs 15.52 crore in Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) proceeds from M/s Pioneer Overseas Corporation for developing ten commercial mustard hybrid varieties using India’s biological resources.

The amount will be distributed among 26 State Biodiversity Boards and three Union Territory Biodiversity Councils based on the area under mustard cultivation in the respective States and Union Territories.

Pioneer Overseas Corporation developed the ten mustard varieties using parental lines sourced from the open market and traders. As no individual farmer or community could be identified as the source of the biological resources, the NBA constituted an Expert Committee to determine the modalities for distributing the ABS proceeds.

Following the Committee’s recommendations, the NBA approved a mechanism under which ABS proceeds, in cases where biological resources are accessed through intermediaries, are shared among the State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils in areas where the resources are cultivated.

The NBA used mustard cultivation-area data provided by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Bharatpur, to determine the share of each State.

Rajasthan, which accounts for nearly 42 per cent of India’s mustard cultivation, received the largest share at Rs 6.43 crore. Uttar Pradesh received Rs 2.28 crore, followed by Madhya Pradesh with Rs 1.86 crore and Haryana with Rs 1.21 crore.

West Bengal received Rs 1.10 crore, while Jharkhand, Assam, Gujarat, Bihar and Punjab received Rs 0.73 crore, Rs 0.53 crore, Rs 0.48 crore, Rs 0.15 crore and Rs 0.08 crore, respectively. Other States and Union Territories together received Rs 0.67 crore.

The State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils are required to utilise the ABS proceeds for activities specified under the Biological Diversity Act, including biodiversity conservation, preparation and updating of People’s Biodiversity Registers, in-situ and ex-situ conservation, restoration of degraded ecosystems and strengthening of Biodiversity Heritage Sites.

The funds can also be used to strengthen the capacity of Biodiversity Management Committees and improve community livelihoods linked to biodiversity conservation.

The release is part of the NBA’s efforts under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the commercial use of India’s biological resources.

The NBA has released a total of Rs 182.5 crore in ABS proceeds so far, including Rs 116.22 crore released to beneficiaries across the country during the last 12 months.