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

• The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed ₹8.22 crore in August 2026 to research bodies and regional boards under an Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism. 

• ₹8.22 crore released by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) as Access & Benefit-Sharing (ABS) for rice.

• Funds received from Pioneer Overseas Corporation for using Indian rice (Oryza sativa) varieties to develop and commercialize hybrids.

• ₹2.47 crore allocated to 3 research institutions that conserved and shared rice varieties.

• ICAR–Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad: ₹2.43 crore.

• GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Uttarakhand: ₹3.26 lakh.

• ₹5.75 crore distributed among 33 State Biodiversity Boards & UT Biodiversity Councils.

• Allocation to States/UTs was based on their rice-growing area.

• Uttar Pradesh received the highest State share: ₹73.26 lakh.

• Funds will support germplasm conservation, seed collections, research, training and native crop diversity.

• Biodiversity Boards will also support ecosystem restoration, traditional knowledge and local farmers/knowledge holders.

• NBA has received about ₹83 crore ABS payments from the agriculture & seed sector so far.

• Total ABS disbursements across all sectors: over ₹162 crore.

• The initiative supports Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – Target 13.

• It also contributes to SDGs 2, 12, 15 and 17.

• NBA: Statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

• Key takeaway: Commercial use of India’s biological resources should ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits with conservation and knowledge-holding institutions.

Source: PIB