**Executive Summary**
This report details the progress of the Biotech-KISAN (Krishi Innovation Science Application Network) Scheme, a flagship farmer-centric program launched in 2017 to bridge the gap between laboratories and agricultural fields. As of April 2, 2026, the Department of Biotechnology has established over 50 hubs across 25 States and Union Territories to provide training, demonstration, and biotech interventions. The initiative has reached over one lakh farmers, leading to significant yield improvements and enhanced soil health through sustainable practices.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Scheme Implementation and Reach**
* **Established Network:** Over 50 Biotech-KISAN Hubs have been implemented across diverse agro-climatic zones, including arid, coastal, and tribal regions.
* **Direct Impact:** The program has directly reached more than one lakh farmers, delivering yield improvements ranging from 15% to 37%.
* **Operational Status:** Currently, five Biotech-KISAN Hubs are fully operational as demonstration units and enterprise incubators.
**Zonal Biotechnological Interventions**
* **North Eastern Zone:** Focused on biofertilizers for rice/vegetables, organic technologies (vermicompost), honey processing, and bamboo polyhouses.
* **Eastern Zone:** Implementation of millet tuber complexes and tribal rice landrace conservation through community seed banks.
* **Central Zone:** Introduction of dryland pulse technologies for pigeon pea and chickpea, alongside soil health interventions.
* **Western Zone:** Promotion of farmer-led innovations like the Abu Saunf 440 fennel variety and community gene banks for arid zone crops.
* **Northern Zone:** Development of mechanized walnut processing clusters and dairy productivity hubs.
* **Southern Zone:** Advancement of pulse production, seaweed farming, shrimp hatcheries, and biofortified millets.
**Technical Standards and Certification**
* **NCS-TCP:** The National Certification System for Tissue Culture Raised Plants ensures the supply of virus-free, genetically uniform, and high-quality planting material.
* **Quality Control:** Strict protocols are in place for the disposal of virus-infected plants to ensure only standardized material reaches farmers.
**Environmental and Productivity Gains**
* **Fertilizer Reduction:** Farmers in Odisha, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh reported a 25–30% reduction in chemical fertilizer use.
* **Soil Health:** Demonstration plots in Odisha showed a 20–25% increase in soil organic carbon.
* **Sustainable Yields:** Integrated seed hubs in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh achieved 20–35% yield increases in pulses and groundnuts.
**Women’s Empowerment Initiatives**
* **Training and Enterprise:** Over 5,000 women have been trained in seed production and mushroom cultivation, leading to 1,200 women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
* **Fellowships and Tools:** The "Mahila Biotech Fellowships" and the "Mushroom Mentor" mobile application provide targeted innovation support and guidance.
* **Workforce Participation:** Women comprise nearly 70% of the workforce in tissue culture production facilities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Rural Farmers**
**Impact:**
Farmers gain access to high-yielding, disease-free planting materials and biotechnological tools that reduce reliance on expensive chemical fertilizers while increasing crop productivity by up to 37%.
**Action Required:**
Adopt biofertilizers and residue-free cultivation practices; utilize community seed banks and hubs for local variety conservation.
**Women Farmers and Entrepreneurs**
**Impact:**
Women are transitioned from beneficiaries to leaders in biotech-led agriculture through specialized training, fellowships, and the formation of food-processing enterprises.
**Action Required:**
Engage with Mahila Biotech Fellowships and utilize ICT tools like the "Mushroom Mentor" app for technical guidance.
**Agricultural Research and Implementation Agencies (DBT)**
**Impact:**
Successful validation of lab-to-land transfers across 25 States and Union Territories, establishing a structured system for certified tissue culture plants.
**Action Required:**
Maintain the operationality of the 50+ hubs and strictly enforce NCS-TCP disposal norms for infected plant materials.
Key Entities Referenced
Biotech-KISAN Scheme: A flagship farmer-centric program (Krishi Innovation Science Application Network) that establishes hubs to transfer scientific biotechnology innovations to rural farming communities.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT): The primary implementing department under the Ministry of Science & Technology responsible for executing biotech-led agricultural interventions and schemes.
National Certification System for Tissue Culture Raised Plants (NCS-TCP): A structured system implemented by the DBT to ensure the production and supply of high-quality, virus-free, and standardized planting material to farmers.
Mahila Biotech Fellowships: A specialized initiative under the Biotech-KISAN program aimed at empowering women farmers and fostering women-led innovation in rural biotech enterprises.
Biotech KISAN Hubs: Operational units established across diverse agro-climatic zones that serve as demonstration centers, training units, and enterprise incubators for farmers.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Parliament Question: Biotech-KISAN Scheme
Posted On: 02 APR 2026 4:52PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Biotechnology has been implementing the Biotech-KISAN (Krishi Innovation Science
Application Network) Scheme since 2017 as a flagship farmer-centric programme. The scheme has made
notable progress in bridging the gap between laboratories and agricultural fields by establishing hubs
across diverse agro-climatic zones. These hubs serve as demonstration units, training centres, and
enterprise incubators, ensuring that scientific innovations are adapted to local farming challenges and
directly reach rural communities. The program has directly reached over one lakh farmers, delivering yield
improvements of 15 to 37 percent in demonstration plots. It has empowered women through Mahila Kisan
Fellowships, fostered rural biotech enterprises, and strengthened market linkages. Farmers have adopted
residue-free cultivation, precision farming, and integrated pest management, thereby enhancing both
productivity and sustainability.
To date, the Department has implemented over 50 Biotech KISAN Hubs across 25 States and Union
Territories, covering diverse agro-climatic zones including arid, semi-arid, coastal, hill, tribal, and North
Eastern regions. At present, 5 Biotech KISAN Hubs are operational.
The following biotechnological interventions successfully transferred to rural farmers:
1. DBT Biotech-KISAN scheme:
North Eastern Zone: Biofertilizers and microbial consortia for rice and vegetables; organic
farming technologies such as vermicompost, biofortified compost, and azolla biofertilizer;
beekeeping and honey processing hubs; mushroom spawn production units; bamboo polyhouses and
turmeric/ginger processing.
Eastern Zone: Millet tuber complexes; tribal rice landrace conservation and seed hubs; community
seed banks and varietal innovation hubs.
Central Zone: Dryland pulse technologies (pigeon pea, chickpea, groundnut); community-based
seed hubs for high-yielding varieties; soil health interventions using microbial inputs.
Western Zone: Farmer-led varietal innovation including Abu Saunf 440 fennel variety registered
under PPV&FRA; arid zone crops such as cumin, isabgol, cluster bean; community gene banks and
seed hubs.
Northern Zone: Mechanized walnut processing clusters; dairy productivity hubs and fodder
biotech inputs.
Southern Zone: Pulse production technologies (black gram, green gram, pigeon pea); community
seed hubs and nutri gardens; shrimp hatcheries and seaweed farming; biofortified maize and millets.
2. National Certification System for Tissue Culture Raised Plants (NCS-TCP): Under this scheme
implemented by the Department of Biotechnology, plant tissue culture technology has been
successfully transferred to rural farmers through a structured system that ensures the supply of high-
quality, virus-free, and genetically uniform planting material. This ensures that farmers receive
quality planting material thereby reducing the risk of disease spread and improving cropproductivity. Importantly, any virus-infected plants are disposed of strictly as per prescribed norms,
ensuring that only safe and standardized planting material reaches the farming community.
The measurable impact of these technologies in restoring soil health and increasing the yield of
pulse and oilseed crops is as follows:
Farmers in Odisha, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh, through structured demonstrations and training,
have reported a 25–30% reduction in chemical fertilizer use by adopting biofertilizers,
vermicompost, and microbial consortia.
Demonstration plots in Odisha have shown a 20–25% increase in soil organic carbon, thereby
enhancing fertility and water retention.
In the North Eastern states, adoption of biocontrol consortia and azolla biofertilizer has helped in
restoration of soil microbial balance, reducing pest incidence and improving nutrient cycling.
In Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, integrated seed hubs coupled with farmer training and
demonstrations have reported 20–35% yield increases in pigeon pea, chickpea, and groundnut,
directly linked to healthier soils and sustainable practices.
The capacity building initiatives under Biotech KISAN have specifically targeted women farmers.
More than 5,000 women have been trained in biofertilizer use, seed production, mushroom cultivation,
and kitchen garden models. Over 1,200 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have been formed or strengthened,
leading to women-led enterprises in food processing, aquaculture, and floriculture. The Department has
also introduced Mahila Biotech Fellowships to promote women-led innovation, and ICT-enabled
advisories such as the mobile application “Mushroom Mentor” have provided timely guidance to women
farmers.
Complementing these efforts, the National Certification System for Tissue Culture Raised Plants
implemented by DBT has integrated capacity-building as a key component to strengthen grassroots
adoption of biotechnology interventions. Nearly 70% of the staff employed in tissue culture production
facilities is women, underscoring their central role in biotechnology-driven agriculture. Through
structured on-the-job training and continuous exposure to standardized procedures, these women workers
acquire practical knowledge of basic biotechnology applications, which allows them to contribute directly
to sustainable agricultural practices.
Together, these programmatic initiatives highlight a comprehensive approach where women are not only
beneficiaries but also leaders in biotechnology-led agricultural transformation. They gain skills,
entrepreneurial opportunities, and recognition, while simultaneously advancing sustainability, innovation,
and inclusive growth across rural communities.
This information was submitted by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science &
Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh in Rajya Sabha on 2nd April 2026.
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