India's Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh emphasized that biotechnology
can help replace traditional methods of agriculture to boost quality and
production. Stating that there is a need to bring second Green Revolution
particularly in eastern states, Mr. Singh said: "As such, agricultural
biotechnology will play a significant role in increasing quality production
in these states."

Laying the foundation stone of Indian Institute of Agricultural
Bio-Technology in Jharkhand on August 25, 2014, the minister pitched for
biotech crops for achieving a second green revolution in the country. The
agriculture minister mentioned that due to climatic changes and fluctuations
in temperature, agriculture has been adversely affected in the past. This
has led not only to reduction in production but has also affected the
quality of crops. Highlighting the benefits of biotechnology, Singh said
crops can be made climate resilient, and drop in production can be addressed
with use of biotech crops. In the backdrop of limited natural resources and
growing population, there is an urgent need to change the traditional
methods of agriculture, he added.

The mission of the institute will be to strengthen ongoing research work,
fundamental research in the field of biotechnology, as well as building
capacity for human resources.

[pib.nic.in]
[pib.nic.in]