Illustrate on Application of biotechnology in floriculture,
nurseries and forestry (4 Points).
Answers
Answer:
Biotechnology has application in four major industrial areas, including health care (medical), crop production and agriculture, non food (industrial) uses of crops and other products (e.g. biodegradable plastics, vegetable oil, biofuels), and environmental uses.
Explanation:
Answer:
Land is the most fundamental resource of a country and as a result of the high rate of population growth in India, the pressure to produce more food, fodder, timber and fuelwood from the available land is intense. Land use, therefore, needs judicious planning. India has about 130 Mha of wastelands. Wastelands are defined as lands that are degraded and are lying unutilised due to constraints such as salinity, alkalinity, waterlogging, wind and water erosion, etc. Since wastelands are degraded and unsuitable for agriculture, they can be utilised to meet the growing demand for fuelwood, fodder, small timber and industrial wood.
Not only do we have to reclaim the wastelands but we should also try and protect our forest cover which is being depleted at the rate of 1.3 Mha per year. Efforts are also required to step up the existing per hectare yield of 0.2 m3 to 2–3 m3. The need of the hour is a quantum jump in existing afforestation targets. The plan is to afforest wastelands at a rate of 5 Mha per annum. Such large-scale plantations will demand a large amount of planting material (seeds or seedlings) and in order to achieve higher yields, it is important that these planting materials are of good quality. This means a high yielding plant which is also resistant to different diseases and pests.