Role of Bio-Technology in the Development of Agriculture Sector in India

Biotechnology is not a single technology. It can be broadly defined as "using organisms or their products for commercial purposes." Modern biotechnology has offered opportunities to produce more nutritious and better tasting foods, higher crop yields and plants that are naturally protected from disease and insects. Modern biotechnology allows for the transfer of only one or a few desirable genes, thereby permitting scientists to develop crops with specific beneficial traits and reduce undesirable traits . Benefits can also be seen in the environment, where insect-protected biotech crops reduce the need for chemical pesticide use. Insect-protected crops allow for less potential exposure of farmers and groundwater to chemical residues, while providing farmers with season-long control. Also by reducing the need for pest control, impacts and resources spent on the land are less, thereby preserving the topsoil. Governments also rely on scientific research because they are responsible for setting health and safety standards regarding new developments. National governments and international organizations support food biotechnology as a means to avoid global food shortages. Many policy making bodies are also trying to balance support of the food biotechnology industry with public calls for their regulation. Such regulations are necessary to protect public health and safety, to promote international trade, conserve natural resources, and account for ethical issues. This paper studies the performance of Biotechnology in the development of Agriculture sector in