Agriculture and Allied Areas

The post Green Revolution era is almost merging
with the gene revolution for improving crop
productivity and quality. The exploitation of heterosis
vigor and development of new hybrids
including apomixis, genes for abiotic and biotic
resistance, and developing planting material with
desirable traits and genetic enhancement of all
important crops will dominate the research
agenda in the next century. Integrated nutrient
management and development of new biofertilizers
and biopesticides would be important from
the view- point of sustainable agriculture, soil
fertility, and a clean environment. Stress biology,
marker-assisted breeding programs, and studying
the important genes will continue as priorities.
We will have to switch to organic farming
practices, with greater use of biological software
on a large scale.
In India we have achieved the cloning and sequencing
of at least six genes, developed regeneration
protocols for citrus, coffee, mangrove
species, and new types of biofertilizer and
biopesticide formulations, including mycorrhizal
fertilizers. Research to develop new genetically
improved (transgenic) plants for brassicas, mung
bean, cotton, and potato is well advanced. Industries
have also shown a keen interest in the options
of biotechnology and are participating in
field trials and pilot level productions. The successful
tissue culture pilot plants in the country,
one at TERI in New Delhi and the other at NCL
in Pune are now functioning as Micropropagation
Technology Parks. This has given a new direction
to the plant tissue culture industry. The
micropropagation parks serve as a platform for
effective transfer of technology to entrepreneurs,
including training and the demonstration of technology
for mass multiplication of horticulture and
trees. Considerable progress has been made with
cardamom and vanilla, both important crops.
Yield of cardamom has increased 40 percent using
tissue-cultured plants.
Between 1996 and 1998, in just eight countries,
the area covered by new genetically improved
transgenic plants (from 16.8 to 27.8 million hectares)
(James 1998). Some of the main crops grown
are soybean, corn, canola, cotton, and potato. The
United States, Argentina, Brazil, and China have
moved ahead quickly. The new plants exhibited
herbicide, insect, and viral resistance, and overall
improvement in product quality.
While the Green Revolution gave us self-reliance
in food, the livestock population has provided
a “White Revolution,” with 80 percent of
the milk in India coming from small and marginal
farms. This has had a major social impact.
A diverse infrastructure has been established to
help farmers in the application of embryo transfer
technology. The world’s first IVF buffalo calf
(PRATHAM) was born through embryo transfer
technology at the National Dairy Research Institute,
Karnal. Multiple ovulation and embryo
transfer, in vitro embryo production, embryo sexing,
vaccines and diagnostic kits for animal health
have also been developed. Waste recycling technologies
that are cost effective and environmentally
safe, are being generated. The animal science
area is also opening up many avenues for employment
generation.
With a coastline of more than 8,000 kilometers,
and two island territories of Andaman and
Nicobar and Lakshadweep, there is great potential
for marine resource development and aquaculture.
To achieve an annual target production
of 10 million metric tons of fish, scientific aquaculture
offers great possibilities. In fact, aquaculture

products are among the fastest moving

commodities in the world. We have to continuously
improve seed production, feed, health
products, cryopreservation, genetic studies, and
related environmental factors. This is an area
India: Biotechnology Research and Development 53
which will help substantially in the diversification
of the breadbasket, and in combating nutritional
deficiency.