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4. TASKS AHEAD
4.1. Agriculture:
4.1.1.
Development of transgenics of cereal crops like
rice, braqssica, chickpea, potato, tomato, other vegetables,
large scale seed production, development of hybrid seeds of
nutritionally enhanced vegetables (more protein content,
higher lysine content) with higher yields.
4.1.2.
Development of edible vaccines in plants and
fruits such as banana.
4.1.3.
Improving Jute and Tea cultivation.
4.1.4.
Planting
trees of economic importance
which will grow easily in West Bengal's climatic and soil
condition but which may not be growing on a mass scale at
present due to lack of technology or incentives.
4.1.5.
Development of Agro-forestry plantation (bamboo,
teak, eucalyptus, pine etc.) to replace denuded forests and to
increase economic value by inter cropping.
4.1.6.
Development of horticulture plants according to
economic importance through clonal propagation.
4.1.7.
Enhancement of floriculture using tissue
culture, micro-propagation and macro-propagation.
4.1.8.
Extension of regional hardening facilities
to the benefit of tissue culture plants raised at the grass
roots level.
4.1.9.
Promoting agriculture in the Himalayan and
sub-Himalayan regions including cereals like barley,
sorghum, millet etc.
4.1.10.
Cultivation of Medicinal and aromatic Plants in
high altitudes and plains.
4.1.11.
Establishment of gene-banks, germplasm
for maintenance and propagation of superior quality crops and
plants of special value.
4.2. Biofertilisers and Biopesticides:
4.2.1.
Development of biofertilisers including blue
green algae to enhance soil fertility and to decrease
dependence on chemical fertilizers.
4.2.2.
Identification of indigenous micro-flora for
development of bacterial consortium useful as bio-fertilisers,
bio-pesticides.
4.2.3.
Development of bio-pesticides and bio-control agents
against specific indigenous targets in rural areas in
the plains and mountainous agricultural lands.
4.3. Animal Biotechnology:
4.3.1.
To develop/apply methods for enhancing milk yields in
cattle.
4.3.2.
To develop better strains of livestock species using
known or new methods of biotechnology
(transgenic cattle).
4.3.3.
Use biotechnology for developing diagnostics and
vaccines for major live stock disease such as Foot and mouth
disease, rabies, hemorrhage, septicimiea, anthrax etc.
4.3.3.1.Establishment of cell lines and sperm banking
facilities for maintenance and propagation of superior quality
livestock.
4.4. Fisheries:
4.4.1.
Development of better methods for pisciculture to
cultivate commercially viable fish such as katla, rohu, magur
etc.
4.4.2.
Development of scientific methods of cultivation of
fresh water and sea water Prawn culture farms for higher
yields and better quality, especially useful for exports.
4.4.3.
Diagnostics for bacterial and viral diseases affecting
local edible fishes and prawns.
4.5. Bioprospecting and bio-resource mapping:
4.5.1.
Development of a database documenting economically and
ecologically important spots such as the Sunderban region
(mangrove), Himalayan and sub-himalayan regions, plains of
Purulia, Birbhum, Bankura and Midnapore.
4.5.2.
Identification of novel biologically important natural
compounds from these unique bio-reserves to be used for
development of drugs, vaccines, therapeutics, biofertilisers
and biocontrol agents.
4.5.3.
Preparation of inventory of microbial bio-diversity in
wetland areas, coastal areas, forests, hilly and terai areas.
4.5.4.
Inventorisation of ethno-botanical flora and fauna of
different areas of
West Bengal.
4.5.5.
Developing agro-forestry database and prerdiction of
natural disasters using remote sensing methods.
4.5.6.
Development of genetic markers for plant and animal
breeding programmes.
4.6. Environment protection and ecosphere management:
4.6.1.
Bio-remediation and waste recycling in specific
location by new microbial consortia.
4.6.2.
Development of bio-indicators and bio-sensors for
pollution control.
4.6.3.
Biotechnological interventions for pollution and waste
management for specific eco-systems.
4.6.4.
Development of efficient waste disposal strategies
using biotechnological methods.
4.7. Alternative energy resources:
4.7.1.
Identification and development of crops for
bio-engineering, bio-fuels and bio-energy.
4.7.2.
Use of extremophiles as a source for bio-energy.
4.8. Biomass Development:
4.8.1.
Use of lingo-cellulasic material for development of
economically viable animal feed.
4.8.2.
Conversion of waste materials for the development of
biomass.
4.8.3.
Cultivation of Spirulina as a high value low cost
nutrient for rural and tribal areas.
4.8.4.
Fish feed formulation and development using cheap and
locally available materials with the help of biotechnological
intervention.
4.9. Medical Biotechnology:
4.9.1.
Development of diagnostic kits for major infectious and
tropical diseases.
4.9.2.
Development of diagnostic kits for genetically
inherited disorders.
4.9.3.
Upscaling and commercialization of already developed
and available ELISA and PCR based diagnostics.
4.9.4.
Upscaling and commercialization of genomics based
technologies like microarray, chips and drug development.
4.9.5.
Characterisation of anti-microbial and anti-viral
agents from natural products.
4.9.6.
Microbial production of recombinant therapeutic agents
at low cost.
4.9.7.
Methods to develop and use stem cell lines for r
esearch and tissue regeneration for medical use.
4.9.8.
Undertaking reproductive health and contraceptive
research.
4.9.9.
Developing strategies for prevention and cure of
diseases induced by faulty diet and lifestyle like diabetes,
heart disease and obesity.
4.10 Industry:
4.10.1.
Development of joint R&D programmes between basic research
scientists and private industries for commercially viable
projects.
4.10.2.
Setting up production units for commonly used
biotechnological and bio-medical instruments.
4.10.3.
Production and commercialization of recombinant
biologicals and related materials like disposable plastic
wares.
4.10.4.
Modernisation of industries using fermentation
technology for production of alcohol and other important
solvents and industrial enzymes.
4.10.5.
Production of value added by-products from microbial
sources such an Spirulina, Fungi etc. for use in
pharmaceuticals and food industry.
4.10.6.
Use of innovative recombinant DNA technology to upgrade
and modernize industrial products currently in the market.
4.10.7.
Development of knowledge base using biotechnological
research and promotion of contract research.
4.10.8.
To set up Biotech product development fund and
technology platforms.
4.10.9.
To replace synthetic products by developing new
technology based on biological materials.
4.10.10.Development of small scale industrial sector for
bio-pesticide, bio-fertilisers, food processing and packaging
industries.
4.11.
Biotechnology and Societal Development
Biotechnology has both multidimensional and multifunctional
role for achieving social development in the face of the
challenging problems of growing population, diminishing
resources and ecological hazards of development and growth.
All over the world, particularly in the developed countries,
biotechnology has played a very significant role in the
manufacturing of health products, secondary metabolites,
biopharmaceuticals, enzymes, microbial production of chemicals
and other farm-biotechnological industries. In order to cater
to the real life needs of the state, the Government of West
Bengal is keen to facilitate training of rural women in
preservation and packing of final products, leafy vegetable
cultivation, mushroom cultivation, vermicomposting. Government
will further assist training and motivating the people of
rural Bengal in the conservation and cultivation of medicinal
and aromatic plants. The government of West Bengal intends to
take all measures to propagate green house cultivation, low
cost tissue culture and organic farming throughout the state.
The government under its own initiative would conduct trial
organic farming in a few agricultural farms. To reach its goal
the government of West Bengal intends to take up the following
tasks.
4.11.1.
Essential emphasise will be laid in rural sector. The
concept of bio-village would be spread throughout the state.
4.11.2.
Location and natural resource specific projects shall
be developed.
4.11.3.
Involvement of women and SC/ST would be emphasized in
rural development programmes.
4.11.4.
Genetic counseling centers will be setup with
diagnostic centers for genetic disorders for helping the
needy.
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