Nuclear science and technology at the Department of Atomic Energy has been contributing towards enhancing the production of agricultural commodities and their preservation. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai has a broad based research programme in food and agriculture involving genetic improvement of crops through mutation breeding and biotechnological approaches, food irradiation,
... [Show full abstract] isotope aided soil studies, understanding the fate and persistence of pesticides and integrated pest management. Radiation induced genetic variability in crop plants is a valuable resource for various desired characteristics to produce better crop varieties. Crop improvement programmes involving radiation induced mutagenesis along with recombination breeding at BARC have evolved 41 varieties in oilseeds (groundnut, mustard, soybean and sunflower), pulses (urdbean, mungbean, pigeonpea, cowpea), rice and jute. These have been released and Gazette notified by the Ministry of Agriculture, for commercial cultivation across the country. Some of the desirable traits in these crops include higher yield, improved quality traits, early maturity and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Several of these varieties especially in oilseeds and pulses have high patronage from the farming community and are extensively grown in the country.
