**Executive Summary**
This document addresses the utilization of radiation-based agricultural technologies in India, particularly in Odisha, Haryana (Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha Constituency), and Maharashtra (Khandesh and Jalgaon Lok Sabha Constituencies). It provides details on the development and deployment of improved crop varieties and post-harvest technologies, as well as government initiatives in collaboration with various institutions. The report also lists Trombay crop varieties released with their salient features and states with commercial irradiation facilities. The information was answered on 11/02/2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Crop Variety Development:**
* The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has developed 72 varieties of oilseeds, pulses, rice, jute, and banana using radiation-induced mutagenesis and cross-breeding.
* 32 Trombay crop varieties have been released for cultivation in Odisha, Haryana, and Maharashtra, exhibiting traits such as high yield, early maturity, lodging resistance, and stress tolerance.
* Specific Trombay crop varieties and their years of release for groundnut, mungbean, and banana in Odisha are detailed in Table 1.
* Specific Trombay crop varieties and their years of release for groundnut in Haryana are detailed in Table 2.
* Specific Trombay crop varieties and their years of release for groundnut, soybean, mustard, sunflower, mungbean/greengram, urdbean/blackgram, pigeonpea, and cowpea in Maharashtra are detailed in Table 3.
* **Post-Harvest Technologies and Irradiation Facilities:**
* Commercial irradiation facilities have been established across various states to reduce post-harvest losses using radiation technology.
* Haryana has two (2) commercial irradiation facilities, while Maharashtra has nine (9).
* Some facilities in Maharashtra are approved by USDA-APHIS for mango irradiation for export.
* A list of operational Food Irradiation Plants in Haryana and Maharashtra is provided.
* **Government Initiatives and Collaboration:**
* The government collaborates with State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), ICAR institutions, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras to promote nuclear agricultural technologies.
* BARC has MoUs with agricultural universities in Maharashtra.
* BARC and SAUs multiply and supply seeds of released varieties.
* BARC conducts awareness programs.
* ₹9.85 crores have been provided through BRNS for research in Odisha, Haryana, and Maharashtra in the last decade.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Farmers in Odisha, Haryana (Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha Constituency), and Maharashtra (Khandesh and Jalgaon Lok Sabha Constituencies)**
* **Impact:** Access to improved crop varieties with desirable traits, potential for reduced agricultural losses, and enhanced export potential through radiation-based food preservation technologies.
* **Action Required:** Adopt the new crop varieties and technologies in their agricultural practices. Participate in awareness programs conducted by BARC and other institutions.
**Stakeholder: State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), ICAR institutions, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras**
* **Impact:** Collaboration with the government and BARC on research and promotion of nuclear agricultural technologies.
* **Action Required:** Partner with BARC in evaluating and releasing developed breeding lines/mutants. Participate in multiplying and supplying seeds of released varieties.
**Stakeholder: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)**
* **Impact:** BARC's continued involvement in developing and promoting radiation-based agricultural technologies.
* **Action Required:** Continue research and development of improved crop varieties and post-harvest technologies. Collaborate with SAUs and other institutions for field trials and dissemination of knowledge.
Key Entities Referenced
Radiation-Based Agricultural Technologies: The core topic of the parliamentary question, involving the application of radiation technologies to improve crop varieties and food preservation.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC): Key institution responsible for developing Trombay crop varieties using radiation-induced mutagenesis.
Trombay crop varieties: Crop varieties developed by BARC using radiation and released for commercial cultivation.
Odisha, Haryana, Maharashtra: States where Trombay crop varieties have been released for cultivation and where commercial irradiation facilities are located, making them central to the policy’s geographical applicability.
Krishi Vigyan Kendras: Institutions that collaborate with the government to promote nuclear agricultural technologies.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2034
ANSWERED ON 11/02/2026
USE OF RADIATION-BASED AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES
2034. SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI
SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH
DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY
DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND
SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI
SMT. SMITA UDAY WAGH
SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT
SHRI SHASHANK MANI
MS KANGNA RANAUT
SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH
SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY
SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the radiation-based technologies including radiation-induced mutagenesis
and related breeding methods have been utilised for developing improved crop
varieties with traits such as high yield, early maturity and stress tolerance in the
country particularly for cultivation in Odisha, Haryana particularly in Bhiwani-
Mahendragarh Lok Sabha Constituency and Maharashtra particularly Khandesh and
Jalgaon Lok Sabha Constituencies;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the varieties of crops developed and notified for
commercial cultivation as on date, State-wise and crop-wise indicating those adopted
or recommended in Odisha, Haryana particularly Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha
Constituency and Maharashtra particularly Khandesh and Jalgaon Lok Sabha
Constituencies;
(c) the extent to which radiation-based food preservation and post-harvest technologies
including shelf-life extension, disinfestation methods and phytosanitary irradiation
have been deployed in Odisha, Haryana particularly Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok
Sabha Constituency and Maharashtra particularly Khandesh and Jalgaon Lok Sabha
Constituencies to reduce agricultural losses and enhance export potential; and(d) whether the Government has undertaken initiatives in collaboration with the State
Agricultural Universities, ICAR institutions and Krishi Vigyan Kendras to promote
nuclear agricultural technologies to enhance farmers’ income and food security in
Odisha, Haryana particularly Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha Constituency and
Maharashtra particularly Khandesh and Jalgaon Lok Sabha Constituencies and if so,
the details thereof including budgetary support provided along with the steps taken
towards promotion, collaboration, scale adoption and building farmers’ awareness?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS
AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) Yes. Using radiation induced mutagenesis along with cross breeding, Bhabha Atomic
Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai a Constituent Unit of Department of Atomic
Energy (DAE) has developed 72 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 for the
entire country. Of these, 32 Trombay crop varieties have been released for cultivation
in Odisha, Haryana and Maharashtra. These crop varieties have desirable traits such
as high yield, early maturity, improved lodging resistant, biotic & abiotic stress
tolerance etc. and thus benefiting farmers in the country.
(b) Following are the details of Trombay crop varieties released with their salient
features:
Table1: Trombay crop varieties released and notified for commercial cultivation in
Odisha
S. Year of
Variety
No. release
Groundnut
1. TAG 24 1992
2. TG 37A 2004
3. TPG 41 2004
4. TG 38 2006
5. TG 51 2008
6. Mungbean
7. TARM-1 1997Banana
8. Kaveri Vaaman (TBM-9) 2025
Table 2: Trombay crop varieties released and notified for commercial cultivation in
Haryana
S. Year of
Variety
No. release
1. Groundnut
2. TG 37A 2004
3. TPG 41 2004
Table 3: Trombay crop varieties released and notified for commercial cultivation in
Maharashtra
S. Year of
Variety
No. release
Groundnut
1. TAG 24 1992
2. TKG 19A 1996
3. TG 26 1996
4. TPG 41 2004
5. TLG 45 2007
6. TAG 73 2021
Soybean
7. TAMS 38 2005
8. TAMS 98-21 2007
Mustard
9. TPM 1 2007
10. TAM 108-1 2021
Sunflower
11. TAS-82 2007
Mungbean/Greengram
12. TAP-7 1983
13. TARM-2 1994
14. TARM-1 1997
15. TARM-18 1997
Urdbean/ Blackgram
16. TAU-1 1985
17. TPU-4 1992
18. TAU-2 1993
Pigeonpea
19. TT-6 1985
20. TAT-10 1985
21. TT-401 2007
22. TJT-501 2009
23. PKV-TARA 2013
Cowpea
24. TC 901 2018Rice
25. TKR Kolam 2020
26. Trombay Konkon Khara 2024
Sorghum (Jowar)
27. Trombay Akola Suruchi 2023
(TAKPS 5)
Sesame
28. TLT- 10 (Trombay Latur Til) 2024
(c) With the aim of reducing post-harvest losses in various agri-produce through radiation
technology, various commercial irradiation facility centres have been set up across
various states of the country. There are two (2) commercial irradiation facilities in
Haryana, nine (9) irradiation facilities in Maharashtra. Some of facilities among nine
facilities in Maharashtra are also approved by the USDA-APHIS for irradiation of
mango for export. These facilities are providing irradiation services for broad
spectrum food and allied commodities.
List of Food Irradiation Plants operational in the State of Haryana and Maharashtra:
S.
Name of the Plant
No.
1. Radiation Processing Plant, BRIT, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
2. KRUSHAK Irradiator, Lasalgaon, Nashik, Maharashtra
3. M/s A.V. Processors Pvt. Ltd., Ambernath (E), Thane, Maharashtra
4. M/s Agrosurg Irradiators, Vasai, Thane, Maharashtra
5. M/s Hindustan Agro Co-Operative Ltd., Rahuri, Ahmednagar,
Maharashtra
6. Maharashtra State Agricultural Mktg. Board, Navi Mumbai,
Maharashtra
7. M/s AV Gamma Tech LLP, Ambernath, Maharashtra
8. M/s Akshar Gamma Sterile LLP, Ambernath, Thane, Maharashtra
9. M/s. Vishvesh Agro Med Pvt Ltd., Mihan, Nagpur
10. M/s Aligned Industries, Dharuhera, Rewari, Haryana
11. M/s Microtrol Sterilisation Services Pvt. Ltd. Bawal, Haryana
(d) Yes, DAE has been consistently evaluating their developed breeding lines/mutants in
different crops and their release in different agro-climatic zones in respective states in
collaboration with State Agricultural Universities (SAU) and various ICAR institutes.BARC has MoUs with Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola; Mahatma
Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri; Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth,
Dapoli in Maharashtra.
BARC along with SAUs multiply seeds of released varieties and supply to various
state seed corporations, national seed corporations, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Farmer
Producer Organizations, NGOs, seed companies and farmers. BARC also conducts
awareness programmes through their outreach programmes, regular scientific
conferences and participates in Kisan Melas to spread the information about their
improved crop varieties.
Funds of around ₹9.85 crores have been provided through Board of Research in
Nuclear Sciences (BRNS) towards collaborative research in the field of agriculture
and food security in Odisha, Haryana and Maharashtra in last decade.
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