NBA releases ₹3 crore to Red Sanders farmers in Andhra Pradesh under Access and Benefit-Sharing framework
The release, facilitated through the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, forms part of the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism under the Biological Diversity Act.
New Delhi, November 5: In a landmark step to promote sustainable use and equitable benefit-sharing of India’s biological resources, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed ₹3 crore to 199 beneficiaries, including 198 Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) farmers across Andhra Pradesh and the University of Andhra. The release, facilitated through the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, forms part of the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism under the Biological Diversity Act.
The farmers—spread across 48 villages in Chittoor, Nellore, Tirupati, and Cuddapah districts—will receive individual amounts ranging from ₹33,000 to ₹22 lakh, depending on the volume of cultivated Red Sanders supplied. Officials noted that several beneficiaries are receiving payments exceeding the sale value of their produce, demonstrating the framework’s focus on fair compensation and sustainable livelihoods.
This disbursement follows previous NBA initiatives, including ₹48 crore released to the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Forest Departments for Red Sanders conservation and ₹55 lakh to farmers in Tamil Nadu.
The initiative stems from the recommendations of the Expert Committee on Red Sanders (2015), which developed a policy for conservation, sustainable use, and benefit-sharing. The framework gained momentum after the 2019 DGFT policy relaxation, which allowed export of Red Sanders sourced from cultivated origins—ushering in legal and sustainable trade practices.
The NBA described the latest ABS release as a key example of how biodiversity conservation can coexist with rural livelihood enhancement. By aligning local community participation with conservation goals, the initiative reinforces India’s commitment to fair benefit-sharing and long-term protection of one of its most valuable endemic species.
