ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

section in the Western Dun Valley to benefit around
234 people from 18 villages of Sahaspur Block of
DehraDun. A commercial spawn production unit was
established and marketing linkages were
established. Doon Valley Mushroom Cooperative is
helping the beneficiaries in marketing the produce in
the local market. The beneficiaries are earning a
good income through sale of their produce in addition
to consumption in their daily meals to improve their
nutritional status.
Medicinal Plants and Plantation Crops
Aspects on biodiversity conservation were pursued
to improve the livelihood of communities dependent
on forests. High yielding varieties viz. large
cardamom, black pepper, ginger were introducted for
farmers and cultivation was promoted in Trichy
district. Self-help groups were established for
successfully producing and selling the compost.
Farmers were trained on scientific cultivation of
medicinal plants, organic farming, water
management techniques & marketing strategies.
Farmers realized lucrative income through
cultivation of medicinal plants as compared to
conventional cash crops. Sensitization programme
was undertaken for SHGs to introduce non-timber
forest produce collectors and herbal healers at
Tirupati District, Andhra Pradesh. Model for
development of herbal medicines and its cultivation
in kitchen gardens were demonstrated to identified
SHGs. Training programmes were conducted on
herbal medicine preparation, nutritive foods,
sustainable harvesting techniques and cultivation of
MAPs. Model manufacturing units are being
established for manufacturing licensed medicines
through tribal involvement. Integrated horti-forest
herb cultivation was undertaken in Nagalnd and
Manipur through transfer of technology on cultivation
of citronella, lemongrass, patchouli, bamboo and
mushroom to benefit around 250 people.
Demonstration units on essential oil, bamboo and
mushroom cultivation were established.
Identification of superior germ plasm and selection of
plus trees after extensive survey in different parts of
Madhya Pradesh was undertaken. Trees of Aonla,
Achar, Harra, Baheda and Mahua are being used far
clonal propagation. Seedlings of these species have
been produced and budding were successfully
carried out. Flowering and fruiting in Mahua was
Herbal plantation production through nursery
achieved in one year old clonal plants through clonal
propagation technique. Successful epicotyls grafting
in Mohua was achieved. Training programmes on
activation of bud material and collection of activated
bud were imparted to the villagers. The knowledge of
aftercare of clonal plants was also given to them
through field trainings. Around 6000 clonal plants
were distributed to 218 tribal beneficiaries.
Programmes for Women
During the year, 186 new proposals received (April-
November). Out of these, 20 were supported after
their evaluation through three tier system. The Task
Force reviewed 62 completed as well as ongoing
projects. Over 16,000 women benefited though these
projects under three major categories viz. (i)
economic empowerment using softer
biotechnologies, (ii) awareness on nutrition and
health including importance of traditional
food/healthcare and (iii) technical empowerment
including capacity building, developing training
modules etc. Over 8,000 women were benefited
directly through biotech packages for floriculture,
horticulture, cultivation of mushrooms, medicinal and
aromatic plants, biofertilisers, organic farming,
vermicomposting, sericulture, bee keeping,
aquaculture, animal husbandry, poultry farming and
value added food items. Approximately similar
numbers benefited indirectly through programmes
for human health and awareness generation.
Highlights of the projects are given below :
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
Approximately 800 women from J&K, Uttaranchal,
135 Biotechnology for Societal Development