National Biodiversity Authority releases ₹45 lakh to Andhra Pradesh red sanders farmers under ABS
The National Biodiversity Authority on 2 January 2026 announced the release of ₹45 lakh in Access and Benefit Sharing money to red sanders farmers of Andhra Pradesh, taking India's cumulative ABS releases past ₹143.5 crore.
Summary
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) on 2 January 2026 announced the release of ₹45 lakh (USD 50,000) to red sanders farmers of Andhra Pradesh through the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. With this, India's cumulative ABS releases exceed ₹143.5 crore, and the NBA has released over ₹104 crore to Andhra Pradesh for red sanders conservation and benefit claimers. Red sanders cultivators thus earn a dual income, from the lawful sale of the wood and from ABS benefits; in the last three months the NBA released ₹5.35 crore to over 220 farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.
Key facts
- Release
- ₹45 lakh (USD 50,000) via AP State Biodiversity Board
- Mechanism
- Access and Benefit Sharing — Biological Diversity Act, 2002
- Cumulative ABS
- Over ₹143.5 crore (USD 16 million)
- To Andhra Pradesh
- Over ₹104 crore for red sanders
- Last 3 months
- ₹5.35 crore to 220+ farmers in AP, TN, Telangana
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) payments made by the National Biodiversity Authority to red sanders farmers are mandated under which law?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Biological Diversity Act, 2002
PIB (MoEFCC): the monetary benefits come under the ABS mechanism mandated under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
India's cumulative Access and Benefit Sharing releases crossed which figure after the NBA's January 2026 disbursement to Andhra Pradesh red sanders farmers?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — ₹143.5 crore
PIB (MoEFCC): with this disbursement, India's cumulative ABS releases now exceed ₹143.5 crore (USD 16 million); ₹104 crore is the amount released to Andhra Pradesh.