Karoly Ereky coined the term âBiotechnologyâ in 1919 to describe the fusion of biological and technological processes aimed at enhancing life on Earth. For agriculture, biotechnology has emerged as a significant boon, elevating crop quality and yield through innovative approaches.
Role of Biotechnology in Improving Living Standards of Farmers
Provides disease-free planting material through tissue culture. Eg- Tissue culture banana (G-9 cultivar) increases yields by 30-40%.
Enhances crop yields through high-yielding and hybrid varieties. Eg- âSwarna Sub-1â flood-tolerant rice and âDRR Dhan 42â drought-tolerant rice.
Reduces pesticide cost through pest-resistant GM crops. Eg- Bt cotton reduced pesticide use by 40-60%.
Lowers fertilizer expenses using biofertilisers. Eg- Rhizobium and Azotobacter cuts nitrogen fertilizer requirement in pulses/oilseeds.
Increases resilience to climate shocks with stress-tolerant seeds. Eg- Drought Tolerant High-Yielding Chickpea Variety âSAATVIK (NC 9)â
Reduces post-harvest losses using improved shelf-life varieties. Eg- Delayed-ripening tomato (Arka Rakshak) reduces spoilage.
Nutritional security through biofortified crops. Eg- Iron-rich pearl millet (ICMH 1202).
Kisan-Kavach: An anti-pesticide suit designed to combat the threat of pesticide-induced toxicity in agricultural settings.
Enables diversification into high-value crops. Eg- Tissue-culture strawberries (âChandlerâ) in Himachal Pradesh.
Boosts dairy income through microbial feed supplements. Eg- Yeast-based probiotics increase milk yield by 8-12%.
Enhances fishery productivity using improved seed varieties. Eg- Jayanti Rohu shows 17-20% higher growth rates.
Generates rural employment – Eg- Tissue culture labs and biofertiliser units run through FPOs in Telangana.
Supports women-led microenterprises – Eg- SHGs in Tamil Nadu producing vermicompost.
Challenges
Regulatory Complexity: Approval processes for GMOs and biotech tools are lengthy. Eg- delay in approval of GM Mustard (DMH-11)
Public skepticism about GMOs. Eg- opposition to Bt Brinjal.
Environmental and Ethical Concerns: Gene flow to non-target species, biodiversity risks, and ethical considerations around gene editing. Eg- concerns over âplaying Godâ
Access and Equity: High development costs and IP protections limit access for smallholders.
Health concerns – Eg- StarLink corn incident (2000) – animal-feed-only GM corn entered the human food chain.
Limited private sector participation – Eg- Policies such as the Cotton Seed Price Control Order (2015) and mandatory tech transfer provisions have discouraged private R&D
Illegal Cultivation and biosafety risks – Eg- HT-Bt cotton is illegally cultivated on up to 25% of cotton acreage in India
Declining Cotton Productivity – Yields have fallen from 566 kg/ha (2013-14) to 436 kg/ha (2023-24), far below China and Brazilâs 1,800-1,900 kg/ha.
Rising Import Dependence – India has shifted from net exporter to net importer, with cotton imports reaching $0.4 billion in 2024-25.
Undermining seed sovereignty due to intellectual property rights. Eg – Monsanto-Mahyco Bt cotton disputes
Way Forward
Science-Based Regulation- Ensure transparent field trials, publicly accessible data and independent monitoring,
Promote public-private partnerships in biotech research and support region-specific GM crops
Implement robust GM labeling and enforce strict action against illegal cultivation and counterfeit seeds.
Prioritise biofortified GM crops such as Golden Rice, iron-rich pulses, and zinc-rich wheat to combat micronutrient deficiencies
Effective implementation of BioE3 mission can help realise Vajpayeeâs vision of Biotech for Bharat – âWhat IT is for India, BT is for Bharatâ