PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ADOPTION OF NUCLEAR AGRICULURAL TECHNOLOGIES

**Executive Summary** The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is actively promoting the adoption of nuclear agricultural technologies through collaborations with State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and research institutions. This initiative aims to enhance farmer's income and national food security. Key activities include research, validation, and dissemination of improved crop varieties and agro-technologies. The information was presented in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on a Thursday. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Collaborative Research and Development:** * DAE, through the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), collaborates with SAUs via Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for nuclear agricultural research, validation, and dissemination. * BARC develops mutant crop lines using gamma irradiation and other mutagens through its mutation breeding program. * These mutant lines are transferred to SAUs and research institutions for multi-location trials (MLTs) to evaluate improved attributes against check varieties. * Successful lines are released for cultivation by farmers. * **Dissemination and Support:** * SAUs play a crucial role in disseminating approved Trombay crop varieties to farmers through seed multiplication networks and breeder seed production, with BARC providing nucleus seed and technical guidance. * BARC offers access to advanced scientific facilities and expertise, including irradiation facilities, molecular biology tools, isotope tracer facilities, and radiometric analysis for soil-water-plant studies. * Faculty and students from SAUs and research institutions can conduct research at BARC under collaborative projects. * BARC partners with SAUs and research institutions for field demonstrations and farmer participatory trials to validate performance under local farming systems. * **Capacity Building and Funding:** * BARC supports SAUs through training programs, workshops, and technology transfer initiatives, including short courses on mutation breeding, radiation processing, and advanced biotechnology. * Scientists and students from SAUs receive training at BARC to build national capacity in nuclear agricultural sciences. * DAE participates in agricultural fairs and Krishi Melas to showcase new varieties and technologies developed by BARC. * The Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), DAE's R&D funding arm, supports SAUs through competitive research grants, infrastructure support, and capacity building in nuclear and allied sciences applied to agriculture. * BRNS funds projects involving mutation breeding, molecular biology, radiation processing, isotope tracer studies, soil-water-plant interactions, food irradiation, biocontrol technologies, and scientific equipment. **Impact Analysis** * **State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and Research Institutions:** * **Impact:** Access to advanced nuclear agricultural technologies, scientific facilities, and expertise from BARC. Opportunity to conduct collaborative research, receive training, and validate improved crop varieties and agro-technologies. Support for developing new crop mutants and stress-resilient lines. * **Action Required:** Participate in collaborative research, multi-location trials, field demonstrations, and farmer participatory trials. Utilize training programs and workshops. Conduct research at BARC and apply for BRNS funding for relevant projects. Disseminate validated technologies and crop varieties to farmers. * **Farmers:** * **Impact:** Potential access to improved crop varieties and advanced agro-technologies, leading to enhanced income and food security. * **Action Required:** Adopt new and improved crop varieties and technologies disseminated through SAUs and research institutions. Participate in field demonstrations and farmer participatory trials. * **Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC):** * **Impact:** Facilitation of the adoption of nuclear agricultural technologies, enhancement of farmer's income, and contribution to national food security. Successful development and validation of new crop varieties and agro-technologies. Strengthening of collaborative research networks. * **Action Required:** Continue to undertake measures to promote nuclear agricultural technologies. Conduct research, develop mutant lines, and provide nucleus seed and technical guidance. Offer access to scientific facilities and expertise. Organize training programs and participate in agricultural fairs. * **Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS):** * **Impact:** Provision of research funding and infrastructure support to SAUs and research institutions, fostering innovation and development in nuclear and allied sciences for agriculture. * **Action Required:** Continue to provide extramural research funding for projects in mutation breeding, molecular biology, radiation processing, and other relevant areas. Support the development and dissemination of new crop mutants and agro-technologies.

Key Entities Referenced