Biotechnology has overhauled the agricultural sector with its widespread applications. It has enabled stakeholders to obtain greater yield with reduced energetic costs.
Role of biotechnology in improving the living standards of farmers:
● Increased Farm Productivity: Capacity to produce more output per area will result in subsequent increase in profits.
● Climate and pest resistant crops: led to decrease in cost of inputs for farmers.
● Increased Shelf life: Will help in reduction of post-harvest losses.
● Enhanced nutritional profile: Results in increased market value of the produce.
● Discovery of new varieties: New varieties of species always have more demands. This will create more profits for farmers.eg-: New varieties of Basmati rice.
● Augmentation in Exports: Improved Quality increases demand in the global market.
● Tailor made plants as an alternative to industrial inputs (starch, fuel, pharmaceutical): This has potential of improving agricultural-industrial relations leading to increased bargaining power of farmers.
● Premium Milk products from Transgenic cows: More balanced protein & nutrients for human babies than natural cow-milk will increase both demand and income.
● Improved livestock breed quality: Cloning, somatic cell nuclear transfer in transgenic animals made them disease-free and climate resistant assets.
● Sexing of semen and embryos: Resulted in reproduction of only female cattle, adding to livestock wealth of farmers.
In the above context it can be concluded that biotechnology holds potential to increase the standard of living of farmers. Biotechnology is the only solution to grow more from less. Initiatives such as Biotech-Kisan and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) are steps in the right direction in order to fulfil the goal of doubling the farmers’ income by 2022.