**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer provided on December 17, 2025, by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office (Dr. Jitendra Singh) to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2917 regarding the use of nuclear science for agriculture and food preservation. It details the Government's efforts in developing new crop varieties, deploying food preservation technologies, and expanding the use of radiation and radioisotopes in agriculture.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Crop Variety Development:**
* Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) developed 72 improved crop varieties using radiation-induced mutagenesis and cross-breeding, including oilseeds, pulses, rice, jute, and banana, all released and notified for commercial cultivation.
* These varieties exhibit desirable traits such as high yield, early maturity, and resistance to lodging and biotic/abiotic stresses.
* In the last five years (2020-2025), 23 varieties have been developed through radiation-induced mutagenesis.
* 7 rice, 5 mustard, 3 black gram (urad), 3 sorghum (jowar), 2 groundnut, 1 mung bean, 1 sesamum (til), and 1 banana.
* 1680 quintals of breeder seeds of Trombay crop varieties have been produced and distributed to seed corporations, companies, and farmers for multiplication and cultivation.
* The estimated quantity of seeds available to farmers for cultivation is around 18,05,300 quintals.
* **Food Preservation Technologies:**
* Radiation-based food preservation technologies (irradiation and cold storage) are employed to extend shelf life and reduce post-harvest losses of agricultural produce.
* Irradiation is used to eliminate insects and microbes from grains and spices.
* The technology is being deployed to facilitate the following:
* Export of agriculture produce (mangoes, pomegranates) to countries like the USA and Australia.
* Shelf-life extension of spices, grains, vegetables, fruits, onions, and potatoes.
* Shelf-life extension of processed food products.
* 41 food irradiation and medical product sterilization facilities are operational in private/State Government sectors.
* **Government Initiatives and R&D:**
* The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is involved in using radiations and radioisotopes in agriculture through R&D programs.
* Field trials of radiation-induced improved crops are implemented in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities and ICAR.
* India exports mangoes and pomegranate to countries such as the USA, Australia, South Africa, and Malaysia, with irradiation used as a mandatory phytosanitary treatment.
* BARC is developing Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) for agricultural produce irradiation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
* **Impact:** Benefitted through cultivation of high-yielding, climate-resilient, and stress-tolerant crop varieties.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the developed crop varieties for cultivation.
**Seed Corporations/Companies**
* **Impact:** Given breeder seeds to cultivate and distribute to farmers.
* **Action Required:** Use breeder seeds for multiplication for cultivation by farmers.
**Traders and Exporters**
* **Impact:** Benefitted by strengthening export-oriented value chains and boosting incomes by reducing post-harvest losses and accessing high-value markets.
* **Action Required:** Utilize irradiation for extending shelf life and meeting quarantine requirements for exportable commodities.
**Consumers**
* **Impact:** Enhanced access to longer-lasting and safer agricultural products through food preservation technologies.
* **Action Required:** None explicitly stated, but could involve increased consumption of irradiated products.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE): The government department responsible for using nuclear science and radiation-based technologies in agriculture.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC): A constituent unit of DAE that develops radiation technologies for agriculture and food preservation.
Radiation-induced mutagenesis: The use of radiation to induce mutations in crops to develop improved varieties.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): An organization that collaborates with DAE in the development and field trials of radiation-induced improved crops.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2917
ANSWERED ON 17/12/2025
NUCLEAR SCIENCE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRESERVATION
2917. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL
SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY
SHRI SHASHANK MANI
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state :-
(a) whether the Government is using nuclear science and radiation-based technologies for
the development of new crop varieties that are high-yielding, climate-resilient and
tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number and types of crop varieties developed through nuclear or radiation-
induced mutagenesis during the past five years along with their present status of
cultivation;
(c) whether radiation-based food-preservation technologies, including irradiation, cold-
chain innovations and isotope-based applications are being deployed to reduce post-
harvest losses and improve shelf life of agricultural produce and if so, the details
thereof; and
(d) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to expand such
technologies to support farmers, strengthen food security and promote export-oriented
value chains?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS
AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) Yes, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) a Constituent Unit of Department of
Atomic Energy (DAE) by using radiation induced mutagenesis along with cross
breeding, has developed 72 improved crop varieties in oilseeds (groundnut, mustard,
soybean and sunflower), pulses (urdbean, mungbean, pigeonpea and cowpea), rice,
jute and banana, which have been released and notified for commercial cultivation.
These crop varieties have desirable traits such as high yield, early maturity, resistantto lodging, biotic & abiotic stress tolerance etc. and thus benefiting farmers in the
country.
(b) In the last five (5) years (i.e. from 2020-2025), by employing radiation-induced
mutagenesis, DAE has developed and released a total of 23 varieties for cultivation by
farmers. These include (a) 7 rice varieties, (b) 5 mustard varieties, (c) 3 black gram
(urad) varieties, (d) 3 sorghum (jowar) varieties, (e) 2 groundnut varieties, (f) one
mung bean variety, (g) one sesamum (til) variety and (h) one banana variety.
In the last five (5) years, a total 1680 quintals of breeder seeds of Trombay crop
varieties, including groundnut, mungbean, rice and mustard varieties, were produced
for distribution to seed corporations/companies and farmers for multiplication for
cultivation by farmers.
The estimated quantity of seeds available to farmers for cultivation is around
18,05,300 quintals. These estimates are based on the expected multiplication ratios
observed during production of foundation seeds from breeder seeds and subsequently,
certified seeds from foundation seeds.
(c) Yes, radiation-based food-preservation technologies involving irradiation, and
subsequent cold storage, developed by BARC are being employed for extending the
shelf life of perishable agriculture produce, mitigate post-harvest and storage losses of
agriculture produce. Irradiation of grains and spices eliminates insects and microbes
and is a useful method of chemical free preservation. The technology is being
deployed to facilitate;
i. Export of agriculture produce such as mangoes, pomegranates to countries like
United States of America (USA), Australia etc., through sea route in an
economical manner.
ii. Shelf-life extension of spices, grains, vegetables, fruits, onions and potatoes.
iii. Shelf-life extension processed food products.
Forty-one (41) food irradiation and medical product sterilization facilities have
already been commissioned in private/State Government sectors in the country and
they are providing radiation processing services on demand basis.(d) DAE has been involved in the use of radiations and radioisotopes in agriculture
through continuous R&D programmes. In field of nuclear agriculture, development
and field trials of radiation induced improved crops are implemented in collaboration
with various State Agricultural Universities, as well as research institutes under the
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
BARC developed radiation technologies not only extend shelf life and prevent post
harvesting losses, but also helps India meet international quarantine requirements for
perishable commodities, enabling access to high-value markets. India has been
exporting mangoes and pomegranate to the USA, Australia, South Africa and
Malaysia using irradiation as a mandatory phytosanitary treatment. These measures
strengthen export-oriented value chains and boost incomes of farmers and traders.
BARC is involved in developing comprehensive Standard Operating Protocols
(SOPs) for the irradiation of agricultural produce to achieve shelf-life extension,
reduction of post-harvest losses, and improvement in marketability.
Overall, the Government's initiatives, including R&D collaborations, establishment of
irradiation infrastructure, and promotion of export-oriented radiation processing, are
helping to strengthen national food security, reduce wastage, improve farmer
incomes, and enhance India’s competitiveness in global agri-trade.
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