The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has crossed a significant milestone in the implementation of India’s Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) framework, with cumulative ABS disbursements exceeding 200 crore rupees. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry said that NBA has sanctioned 8.23 crore rupees in access and benefit- sharing proceeds to be disbursed to states and UTs from utilisation of four key vegetable crops. These crops are Bitter Gourd, Okra, Chilli and onion. 

 

The Ministry further added that the distribution is based on the area under cultivation, as published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. This approach will enable the ABS proceeds to be channelled towards States and Union Territories associated with the cultivation of the respective biological resources, where direct identification of the individual providers or source communities is not possible. 

 

The Ministry highlighted that Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have emerged as the largest cumulative recipients among the States and UTs receiving the ABS proceeds. The Ministry said that this disbursement will also mark another important step in India’s efforts to ensure that benefits arising from the utilisation of biological resources are channelled towards biodiversity conservation and associated community-oriented activities.