In a significant development for biological resource management, India's National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has surpassed Rs 200 crore in cumulative NBA ABS disbursements under its Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) framework. As part of this ongoing initiative, the authority has sanctioned Rs 8.23 crore to various States and Union Territories (UTs) for the commercial utilization of key agricultural bio-resources.
Milestone in Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) Disbursements
The Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism ensures that financial returns generated from the commercial application of biological resources are equitably shared with the custodian states and regions. Reaching the Rs 200 crore threshold marks a major operational milestone in strengthening biodiversity revenue distribution across the country.
Allocation for Horticultural and Crop Bio-Resources
The latest sanction of Rs 8.23 crore directed to States and UTs covers commercial utilization associated with widely cultivated vegetable and horticultural crops. Key bio-resources listed under the recent ABS disbursements include:
- Onion
- Chilli
- Okra
- Bitter Gourd
Impact on State Biodiversity Governance
By routing the sanctioned funds back to the respective States and Union Territories, the NBA ABS framework reinforces the sustainable and legally compliant commercial use of agricultural genetic materials. The mechanism provides a structured pathway for states to receive statutory benefits derived from domestic bio-resources.
