Madhya Pradesh Biotechnology Policy
Introduction :
Development of Biotechnology and the spread of benefits through widespread use of its applications have emerged as one of the leading intellectual enterprises of the scientific community the world over. Biotechnology is research- led and capital intensive. It demands the supply of trained human resources. At the same time there are strengths emanating out of traditional wisdom that need to be protected and enhanced for the larger common good. Govt. of Madhya Pradesh has framed M.P. Biotechnology policy 2003 with the objectives of Forging an alliance between capital intensive research and modern knowledge on the one hand and traditional wisdom and practices on the other and promoting partnership between various stakeholders that include tribal and rural communities, local and state administrations, non-government organizations, scientific establishment and industry.
State Government shall make efforts at the community and state levels to harness the potential of biotechnology for value addition in agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries , forestry and use of bio-fuels; and to improve the quality of life of the citizen by promoting health and nutritional security and through pollution abatement. To achieve these larger goals the state government shall expand opportunities in biotechnology education and research and take step to protect and expand the flow of benefits from traditional knowledge and practices.
Objectives:
The board objective of the policy shall, inter-alia, include promotion of biotechnology applications for:
- Conservation of the state's Biodiversity and the sustainable use of its biotic resources.
- Production of high-yielding, drought and pest- resistant seeds for agriculture and horticulture crops suited to different agro-climatic zones.
- Improvement of the quality of livestock and poultry, especially the breeds indigenous to the state.
- Enhancement of the productive potential of the aquatic eco-system.
- Promotion of cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants, and the processing and value addition of their produce.
- Production of cost effective drugs that help counter disease common in the tropical and sub - tropical regions of the country.
- Promote environmentally safe technologies for pollution abatement, especially treatment of urban waste and industrial effluents.
- Afforestation especially in the quick revival of species which have shown a tendency to decline.
- Generation and use of different types of bio-energy.
To help achieve objectives the state government through its different organs shall endeavor for the :
- Expansion of opportunities for biotechnologies education for research, industry, farmers and community level extension services.
- Promoting of community based biotechnology applications in agriculture, horticulture, livestock, & poultry, fisheries, forestry and health sectors.
- Promotion of studies in the legal and egulatory aspect if intellectual property rights involving different stakeholders including farmers, tribal and rural communities, and the practitioners of traditional and herbal medicine.
- Establishment of biotechnology industry in the state.
- Establishment of a bio-diversity and biotechnology network of institutions and agencies.
Opportunities for biotechnological interventions in the state.
The M.P. Biotechnology policy identifies the following major sectors for Biotechnological interventions.
- Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries
- Forests
- Medicinal & Aromatic Plants
- Health and Medical Biotechnology
- Environment protection and Bio-Energy
- Traditional knowledge and wisdom & awareness generation.
- Community Biotechnology applications
- Education and Training.
- Research and development
Promotion of Biotechnology Industry :
An appropriate framework for biotechnology industry shall be created. Under this framework while all incentives and concessions available to large, medium and small scale industry shall be made available to biotechnology units, package of additional fiscal and non-fiscal incentives shall also be considered.
Strategic Initiatives:
To translate the salient features of the biotechnology policy into action a set of strategic initiatives shall be implemented. List of such initiatives shall be expanded in the near and mid term future. Some of the initiatives on which action shall be commenced are as follows:
- Setting up a world class ' Institute of Life Sciences and Technology' at Bhopal with an adjunct Biotechnology Park for setting up an incubation center, research laboratories and manufacturing units.
- Establishing a Biotechnology Park, as part of the Special Economic Zone at Indore, with emphasis on Agri-biotechnology and pharma biotechnology units.
- Setting up bio centers at selected farms of the state agriculture department, State Seeds Corporation and the Krishi Vigyan Kendras of the Agriculture Universities.
- Expand the bio-villege programme of the agriculture department to cover all villages in the state.
- Setting up of a Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Information Exchange.