Biotechnology is playing a pivotal role in fast tracking plant breeding in India. Public private partnerships utilize marker assisted selection genomic prediction and gene editing tools to develop improved varieties of rice wheat millet pulses and horticultural crops.
State agricultural universities collaborate with biotech companies to release improved lines with yield gains of fifteen to twenty percent along with pest or disease resistance. Drought tolerant wheat has been tested in Rajasthan with performance outperforming conventional check varieties under heat stress.
Community seed systems ensure rapid multiplication distribution and adoption by smallholders. Regulatory frameworks overseen by national biotechnology regulatory authority streamline seed release without compromising safety and quality.
Critics call for strong biosafety public awareness equity and seed royalty safeguards to ensure farmers derive fair returns. Supporters highlight potential of biotech tools to sustainably boost productivity without expanding land use lowering carbon footprint per ton of food produced.
By
