Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

A new State Plan Scheme of Additional Central Assistance (ACA) for agriculture and allied sectors, namely, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) was launched during 2007-08 with an envisaged outlay of Rs. 25,000 crore for the Plan period XI Plan (2007-2012). 

It was to reorient the current agricultural development strategies to meet the needs of the farmers and for fresh efforts by the Central and State Governments to rejuvenate the agricultural sector so as to achieve 4% annual growth during the 11^th Five Year Plan,

It requires the States to prepare District and State Agriculture Plans for creation of such infrastructure, which are essential to catalyse the existing production scenario for achieving higher production. 

Additional Central Assistance (ACA) is made available to the States as 100% grants. 

The RKVY Guidelines recognize and build on the need for convergence and integration of the various programmes implemented at District/State level into District Agriculture Plans (DAPs) and State Agriculture Plan (SAP).

Each district is required to formulate a District Agriculture Plan by including the resources available from other existing schemes, District, State or Central Schemes such as Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF), Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), Bharat Nirman and tied and untied grants from the Central and State Finance Commissions etc.

The District Agriculture Plans are not to be the usual aggregation of the existing schemes but would aim at moving towards projecting the requirements for development of agriculture and allied sectors of the district.

 These plans present the vision for agriculture and allied sectors within the overall development perspective of the district.

 The District Agriculture Plans would reflect the financial requirement and the sources of financing the agriculture development plans in a comprehensive way. 

The DAP will include animal husbandry and fishery, minor irrigation projects, rural development works, agricultural marketing schemes and schemes for water harvesting and conservation, keeping in view the natural resources and technological possibilities in each district. 

Each State is further required to prepare a comprehensive State Agricultural Plan (SAP) by integrating the DAPs. 

The State will have to indicate resources that can flow from the State to the district.

During XII Plan, RKVY funding will be provided through three streams viz.

• production growth (35%),
• infrastructure & Assets and sub-schemes (20%).
• The remaining 10% will be is provisioned as flexi fund from which states can undertake either production growth or infrastructure & assets projects depending upon States needs & priorities. 
• Looking at the requirement of increasing investment, Government has recently done way with 35% requirement in production stream thus paving the way for 100% allocation in investments for infrastructure buildings & creation of assets.

The States have been provided flexibility and autonomy in the process of selection, planning, approval and execution of schemes to make investments in interventions as per their priorities and agro-climatic requirements so that the outcomes are as envisaged in the RKVY objectives. 

The projects of the State Governments are approved by the State Level Sanctioning Committees (SLSCs) under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary of the respective States.  

The funds are routed through the State Agriculture Department, which is the nodal Department for the scheme. 

Presently, six sub-schemes are being implemented as sub-schemes under RKVY during 2014-15. These sub-schemes and their allocations are:-

i.      Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern Region: - 

This programme was initiated in 2010-11 targeting the improvement in the rice based cropping system of Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. 

The allocation for the year 2014-15 was Rs.1000.00 crore.

ii.      Initiative on Vegetable Clusters: - 

Growing demand for vegetables was proposed to be met by a robust increase in the productivity and market linkage.

 For the purpose, an efficient supply chain needed to be established, to provide quality vegetables at competitive prices. 

The allocation for the year 2013-14 was Rs. 200.00 crore and 2014-15 is Rs. 175.00 crore.

iii.     National Mission for Protein Supplements: - 

National Mission for Protein Supplements was launched with an allocation of Rs.300 crore during 2011-12 to take up activities to promote animal based protein production through livestock development, dairy farming, piggery, goat rearing and fisheries in selected blocks. 

iv.     Saffron Mission: - 

The mission was meant to bring economic revival of J&K Saffron. An amount of Rs.100.00 crore was earmarked for 2014-15.

v.      Vidharbha Intensive Irrigation Development Programme: - 

The Scheme was initiated in  2012-13  which seeks to bring in more farming areas under protective irrigation. 

vi.   Crop Diversification: - 

The original Green Revolution States have the problem of stagnating yields and over-exploitation of water resources. The answer lies in crop diversification. 

An amount of Rs.500.00 Crore was allocated for 2013-2014 to the start a programme of crop diversification that would promote technological innovation and encourage farmers to choose crop alternatives. 

For 2014-15 Rs. 250.00 crore has been allocated for this scheme.

Source: PIB

National Food Security Mission' (NFSM)

The National Development Council (NDC) in its 53rd meeting held on 29th May, 2007 adopted a resolution

• to launch a Food Security Mission comprising rice, wheat and pulses
• to increase the production of
  • Rice by 10 million tons,
  • Wheat by 8 million tons and
  • Pulses by 2 million tons
• by the end of the Eleventh Plan (2011-12).

Accordingly, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, 'National Food Security Mission' (NFSM), was launched in October 2007.

The Mission is being continued during 12th Five Year Plan with new targets of additional production of food grains of 25 million tons of food grains

• comprising of 10 million tons rice,
  • 8 million tons of wheat,
  • 4 million tons of pulses and
  • 3 million tons of coarse cereals by the end of 12th Five Year Plan. 

The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) during the 12th Five Year Plan will have five components

• (i) NFSM- Rice; 
• (ii) NFSM-Wheat;
• (iii) NFSM-Pulses,
• (iv) NFSM-Coarse cereals and
• (v) NFSM-Commercial Crops. 

National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) is under implementation since 2014-15 in 27 states including North-Eastern States

• for increasing production and productivity of oilseeds including area expansion of oil palm.

Under both NFSM-pulses and NMOOP financial assistance is available

• for organizing cluster demonstration and Front Line Demonstration (FLD) of improved technologies,
• supply of quality seeds including seeds mini kits of new varieties,
• production inputs like soil  ameliorants, micro nutrients, bio-fertilizers, plant protection chemicals including bio-agents, farm machineries, water saving devices and
• capacity building of farmers/extension workers to increase the production and productivity of the pulses and oilseeds.

National Livestock Mission (NLM)

The National Livestock Mission (NLM) has commenced from 2014-15. The Mission is designed to cover all the activities required

• to ensure quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems and
• capacity building of all stakeholders.

The Mission will cover everything germane to improvement of livestock productivity and support projects and initiatives required for that purpose subject.

• This Mission is formulated with the objective of
  • sustainable development of livestock sector,
  • focusing on improving availability of quality feed and fodder.
• NLM is implemented in all States including Sikkim.

NLM has 4 submissions as follows:

The Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed Development will address the problems of scarcity of animal feed resources, in order to give a push to the livestock sector making it a competitive enterprise for India, and also to harness its export potential. The major objective is to reduce the deficit to nil.

Under Sub-Mission on Livestock Development, there are provisions for productivity enhancement, entrepreneurship development and employment generation (bankable projects), strengthening of infrastructure of state farms with respect to modernization, automation and biosecurity, conservation of threatened breeds, minor livestock development, rural slaughter houses, fallen animals and livestock insurance.

Sub-Mission on Pig Development in North-Eastern Region: There has been persistent demand from the North Eastern States seeking support for all round development of piggery in the region. For the first time, under NLM a Sub-Mission on Pig Development in North-Eastern Region is provided wherein Government of India would support the State Piggery Farms, and importation of germplasm so that eventually the masses get the benefit as it is linked to livelihood and contributes in providing protein-rich food in 8 States of the NER.

Sub-Mission on Skill Development, Technology Transfer and Extension: The extension machinery at field level for livestock activities is very weak. As a result, farmers are not able to adopt the technologies developed by research institutions. The emergence of new technologies and practices require linkages between stakeholders and this sub-mission will enable a wider outreach to the farmers.All the States, including NER States may avail the benefits of the multiple components and the flexibility of choosing them under NLM for a sustainable livestock development.

 

• Sub-Mission under NLM on Fodder and Feed Development will try to address the problems of scarcity of animal feed resources, in order to give a push to the livestock sector making it a economically viable enterprise for India, and also to harness its export potential. 
• The biggest impediment to growth of dairy and livestock productivity is the large-scale prevalence of animal diseases like FMD, PPR, Brucellosis, Avian Influenza etc, which adversely affect the productivity. Taking into account the fact that effective control of a number of animal diseases requires national strategy; the existing scheme of livestock health has been strengthened.

Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme (FMD-CP) which was under implementation in 221 districts since August, 2010, was extended to all the remaining districts of Uttar Pradesh and all the districts of Rajasthan during 2013-14 thus covering 313 districts as of now.

• • It has been decided that FMD-CP will be extended to whole of India during 12th Plan subject to availability of funds and vaccine. 

Milk Production:-

• Increase in milk production has to be achieved by increasing productivity of the milch animals rather than increase in the number of animals.
• In order to encourage farmers to produce more milk, effective system of milk collection has to be ensured so that the farmer is assured of selling his produce at a profitable price which can be ensured by putting in place an effective procurement systems connecting milk producers. 
•  Steps are needed to reduce wastage of milk by expanding the cold chain infrastructure in the rural areas to collect and preserve milk till such time it is collected for sale or taken for processing.
• Systematic planning has to be done for location of bulk milk coolers so that farmers from neighbouring villages can easily access them.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission has been initiated with the aims to conserve and develop Indigenous Breeds in a focused and scientific manner.

• Rashtriya Gokul Mission is a focused project under National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development, with an outlay of Rs.500 crore during the 12th Five Year Plan.
• During 2014-15, Rs.150.00 crore has been allocated for development, preservation and conservation of indigenous breeds. 

Government is also proposing to establish “Rashtriya Kamdhenu Breeding Centre” for development, conservation and preservation of Indigenous Breeds as a Centre of Excellence to develop and conserve Indigenous Breeds (37 Cattle and 13 Buffaloes) in a holistic and scientific manner with the aim of enhancing their productivity and upgrading genetic merit. 

As concerned with fisheries production, with a production of 9.58 million tonnes in 2013-14, India has maintained its position as a second largest producer of fish in the world contributing 5.7 percent of the total fish production globally. 

• Keeping this in view, the Government is now focusing on Blue revolution in the sector.
• Blue revolution means an intensive and sustainable growth in fish production providing for food and nutritional security, employment and improved livelihood. 

A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE)

A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE)

         ASPIRE has been launched on 16.03.2015 with an objective to set up a network of technology centers, incubation centres to accelerate entrepreneurship and also to promote start-ups for innovation and entrepreneurship in rural and agriculture based industry with a fund of Rs.210 crores.

Ø   The planned outcomes of ASPIRE are setting up Technology Business Incubators (TBI), Livelihood Business Incubators (LBI) and creation of a Fund of Funds for such initiatives with SIDBI.

Ø   1^st LBI set up in April-2015 under ASPIRE within a month of launching the Scheme.

•       The first batch of 107 youth has been trained and skilled through it.

Ø   19 LBIs have been approved till September 2015 and another 9 LBIs & 2 TBI is ready to be approved.

• During the year 2015-16, 22 LBIs & 2 TBIs have been approved and two LBI Centres have been operationalized at Deoria (U.P.) and Rajkot (Gujarat).

Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI)

            The objectives SFURTI is to organize the traditional industries and artisans into clusters to make them competitive and provide support for their long term sustainability by way of

• Enhancing the marketability of products,
• Improving the skills of artisans,
• Making provision for common facilities and
• Strengthening the cluster governance systems.

Ø  The Scheme guidelines of SFURTI have been revamped in 2015 and the Scheme has taken giant strides in 2015. 

•     Funds to the tune of Rs.62 Crore have been sanctioned under the Scheme in 2015 as against Nil in 2014.

Ø  68 clusters have already been approved in 2015 itself against the target of 71 clusters during 12^th Plan period with more than a year of the plan period to spare.

Initially, in the first phase, 71 clusters will be developed across the country involving an outlay of Rs.149.44 crores. 

Under the 12^th Five Year Plan it is proposed to take up 800 clusters with funding from the Government of India and Asian Development Bank.

Under the revamped SFURTI, there shall be three types of clusters involving artisans from 500 to 2500. 

The three types of clusters with their number and approximate artisan coverage for the first phase is as under:-

Type of clusters	No. of clusters under the scheme	Approx. Artisan coverage
Heritage clusters(1000-2500 artisans)	2	5000
Major clusters(500-1000 artisans)	10	10000
Mini clusters(upto 500 artisans)	59	29500
	71	44500

The time frame for the implementation of the project for each cluster will be three years and the funding pattern under the scheme has provision for

• Soft interventions including skill training, capacity building, design development, etc.
• Hard interventions including Common Facility Centres, Raw Material Banks(RMB), training centres, etc. and
• Cross cutting thematic interventions which include brand building& promotion, news media marketing, e-commerce, innovation, R&D initiatives and developing linkages between clusters.

In addition to Khadi and Village Industries Commission and Coir Board as Nodal Agencies for Khadi and VI clusters and coir based clusters respectively, the revamped SFURTI also provides for engagement of reputed national/ regional level institutions with sectoral expertise in the major sub-sectors of the traditional industries, as Nodal Agency.  

The scheme also provides for engaging the services of reputed national/ regional level institutions with proven expertise in artisanal and small enterprise cluster developments as Technical Agencies to provide handholding and implementation support to the SFURTI clusters.

Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

The primary objective of  “Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)” implemented by  Ministry of Rural Development is to 

• Empower women in agriculture by making systematic investments to enhance their participation and productivity, 
• Create and sustain agriculture based livelihoods of rural women.
  

• Under the Pariyojana, projects are conceived in such a manner that the skill base of the women in agriculture is enhanced to enable them to pursue their livelihoods on a sustainable basis.
• Under MKSP sustainable agriculture, 58 projects from 14 States have been sanctioned which will benefit 24.5 lakhs Mahila Kisans during the period.
• The Department of Rural development is implementing a programme Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojna (MKSP), which was announced in the budget of 2010-11 as a sub - component of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) to meet the specific needs of women farmers and achieve socio-economic and technical empowerment of the rural women farmers, predominantly small and marginal farmers.

Support to Training & Employment Programme for Women (STEP)

The Ministry of Women & Child Development launched a Central Sector scheme named Support to Training & Employment Programme for Women (STEP) in the year 1986-87 with an objective of extending training for up-gradation of skills and sustainable employment for women through a variety of action oriented projects which employ women in large numbers. 

The scheme was revised in the year 2009-10 and covers 10 traditional sectors of employment besides the option of supporting the locally appropriate sectors. 

• Agriculture is also a selected sector in this scheme.

Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushal Yojana (DDU-GKY)

Scheme of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushal  Yojana (DDU-GKY) is being implemented by Ministry of Rural Development. 

Program Funding:- (It is a centrally sponsored scheme, CSS)

• For all states excluding NE - 75% Centre and 25% state govt.
• For NE state - 90% by Centre and 10% by the state govt.

It is a placement linked skill development program for rural poor youth.

This initiative is a part of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission. It is also an important component of the National Skill Development Policy.

This scheme provides for social inclusion through mandatory coverage of:

• 50% for Scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates and 15% for Minority candidates at national level.
• DDU-GKY also provides for a mandatory coverage of 33% women candidates in all the projects. 

 

Important features of DDU-GKY, inter-alia, are as follows:

• Market-led, placement-linked training programme for rural youth.

• • Mandatory assured placement to 75% of the trained candidates.
  • Focus on rural youth from poor families in the age group of 15 to 35 years.
    • Social inclusion of candidates through mandatory coverage of socially disadvantaged groups.
  • Minimum Salary of Rs.6000 per month or minimum wages specified by a State Government, whichever is higher (after a three month training course).
  • Post-placement support to candidates.
  • Career progression support, job-retention support and foreign placement support for quality outcomes in placements.
  • In allocation of skill projects, primacy given to Training Partners who can train and support overseas placement and captive placements.

Special Focus on Regional Integration:-

• • • A special sub scheme for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir called HIMAYAT
      • Aimed at training and placement of 1 lakh youth from the state (FY 11-12 to 16-17) in Five Years
      • Priority will be given to school and college dropouts who have completed 10th, 12th and so on.
      • 100% centrally funded with a budget of around 235 cr.
      • skilling and placement program ranging from 3,6 to 9 months.
    • A special initiative for the rural youth of the  27 most affected LWE (Left Wing Extremist) districts across nine states called ROSHNI.
      • National Institute of Rural Development as monitoring and coordinating agency 
      • 50,000 youth in three years
      • 40% seats for women with tribal groups on priority

DDU-GKY is undertaken as PPP Project through Private and Public organizations registered with Ministry of Rural Development.

• DDU-GKY is a demand driven program.
• At present, an organization that is a registered legal entity in India can partner with DDU-GKY as a Project Implementing Agency (PIA).

As DDU-GKY aims  skilling for rural poor youth to be aspirational and provide training benchmarked to global norms, as far as possible; the  implementation strategy therefore enables the youth to access best of  training  and related facilities in locations where they are most suitably available  and does not therefore make it  necessary for the centres to be taken to the candidate, but rather the candidates are taken to training centers to ensure quality and better assimilation into mainstream labour markets. 

Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM)

Large parts of rural areas in the country are not stand-alone settlements but part of a cluster of settlements, which are relatively proximate to each other.

These clusters typically illustrate potential for growth, have economic drivers and derive locational and competitive advantages. Hence, making a case for concerted policy directives for such clusters.

• A 'Rurban cluster', would be a cluster of geographically contiguous villages with a
  • population of about 25000 to 50000 in plain and coastal areas and
  • population of 5000 to 15000 in desert, hilly or tribal areas.
• As far as practicable, clusters of village would follow administrative convergence units of Gram Panchayats and shall be within a single block/tehsil for administrative convenience. 
• The State Governments would identify the clusters in accordance with the Framework for Implementation prepared by the Ministry of Rural Development. 

These clusters once developed can then be classified as 'Rurban'. 

Hence taking cognizance of this, the Government of India, has proposed the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM), aimed at developing such rural areas by 

• provisioning of economic, social and physical infrastructure facilities.

Taking also into view, the advantages of clusters, both from an economic view point as well as to optimize benefits of infrastructure provision, the Mission

• Aims at development of 300 Rurban clusters, in the next five years.
•  In the first phase, 100 clusters will be taken up, thereafter more clusters will be identified based on the progress of the scheme. 

These clusters would be strengthened with the required amenities, for which it is proposed that resources be mobilized through convergence of various schemes of the Government, over and above which a Critical Gap Funding (CGF) would be provided under this Mission, for focused development of these clusters.

	14 Components of Rurban Mission Implementation:- To ensure an optimum level of development, fourteen  components have been suggested as desirable for the cluster, which would include;  Skill development training linked to economic activities, Agro Processing/Agri Services/Storage and Warehousing, Digital Literacy, Sanitation, Provision of piped water supply, Solid and liquid waste management, Village streets and drains, Street lights, Fully equipped mobile health unit, Upgrading school /higher education facilities, Inter-village road connectivity, Citizen Service Centres- for electronic delivery of citizen centric services/e-gram connectivity, Public transport., LPG gas connections.

PM Krishi Sinchayi Yojana

The major objective of PMKSY is to achieve

• Convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level,
• Expand cultivable area under assured irrigation,
• Improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage of water,
• Enhance the adoption of precision-irrigation and other water saving technologies (More crop per drop),
• Enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices by exploring the feasibility of reusing treated municipal waste water for peri-urban agriculture and
• Attract greater private investment in precision irrigation system.

PMKSY has been conceived amalgamating ongoing schemes viz.

1. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) of the Ministry of Water Resources,
2. River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR,RD&GR),
3. Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) of Department of Land Resources (DoLR) and the
4. On Farm Water Management (OFWM) of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC).

The scheme will be implemented by Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development.

Ministry of Rural Development is to mainly undertake rain water conservation, construction of farm pond, water harvesting structures, small check dams and contour bunding etc. 

MoWR, RD &GR, is to undertake various measures for creation of assured irrigation source, construction of diversion canals, field channels, water diversion/lift irrigation, including development of water distribution systems.

Ministry of Agriculture will promote efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices like drips, sprinklers, pivots, rain-guns in the farm “(Jal Sinchan)”, construction of micro-irrigation structures to supplement source creation activities, extension activities for promotion of scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures.

Decentralised Planning and Execution:-

Programme architecture of PMKSY will be to adopt a ‘decentralized State level planning and projectised execution’ structure that will allow States to draw up their own irrigation development plans based on District Irrigation Plan (DIP) and State Irrigation Plan (SIP).

It will be operative as convergence platform for all water sector activities including drinking water & sanitation, MGNREGA, application of science & technology etc. through comprehensive plan.

State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) chaired by the Chief Secretary of the State will be vested with the authority to oversee its implementation and sanction projects.

The programme will be supervised and monitored by an Inter-Ministerial National Steering Committee (NSC) will be constituted under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister with Union Ministers from concerned Ministries.

A National Executive Committee (NEC) will be constituted under the Chairmanship of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog to oversee programme implementation, allocation of resources, inter ministerial coordination, monitoring & performance assessment, addressing administrative issues etc.

Nagoya Protocol

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of one of the three objectives of the CBD:

 

• the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. 

The Nagoya Protocol on ABS was adopted on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan and entered into force on 12 October 2014, 90 days after the deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification.

 

Its objective is the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, thereby contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

The Nagoya Protocol applies to genetic resources that are covered by the CBD, and to the benefits arising from their utilization.

• The Nagoya Protocol also covers traditional knowledge (TK) associated with genetic resources that are covered by the CBD and the benefits arising from its utilization.

The Nagoya Protocol’s success will require effective implementation at the domestic level. A range of tools and mechanisms provided by the Nagoya Protocol will assist contracting Parties including: 

• Establishing national focal points (NFPs) and competent national authorities (CNAs) to serve as contact points for information, grant access or cooperate on issues of compliance
• An Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House to share information, such as domestic regulatory ABS requirements or information on NFPs and CNAs
• Capacity-building to support key aspects of implementation. Based on a country’s self-assessment of national needs and priorities, this can include capacity to
  • Develop domestic ABS legislation to implement the Nagoya Protocol
  • Negotiate MAT
  • Develop in-country research capability and institutions
• Awareness-raising
• Technology Transfer
• Targeted financial support for capacity-building and development initiatives through the Nagoya Protocol’s financial mechanism, the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Cartagena Protocol

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty governing the movements of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology from one country to another. 

It was adopted on 29 January 2000 as a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity and entered into force on 11 September 2003.

On 29 January 2000, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a supplementary agreement to the Convention known as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. 

The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. 

It establishes an Advance informed agreement (AIA) procedure for ensuring that countries are provided with the information necessary to make informed decisions before agreeing to the import of such organisms into their territory. 

The Protocol contains reference to a precautionary approach and reaffirms the precaution language in Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. 

The Protocol also establishes a Biosafety Clearing-House to facilitate the exchange of information on living modified organisms and to assist countries in the implementation of the Protocol.

The Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol:-

The Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (ICCP) was established in decision EM-I/3 adopting the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to undertake the preparations necessary for the first meeting of the Parties to the Protocol.

Following its establishment, the ICCP convened an organizational meeting on 29 January 2000, chaired by Ambassador Yang of Cameroon, and elected a Bureau to oversee its activities. 

The members elected to the Bureau were: Cameroon (Chair), Denmark, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Peru, Poland, Saint Kitts and Nevis, South Africa, Switzerland and Ukraine. At the first meeting of the ICCP, Denmark was replaced by France. The first task of the Bureau was to develop a work plan for the ICCP which was submitted, to and endorsed by, the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in May 2000.

The ICCP held three meetings between 2000 and 2003. The first meeting (ICCP 1) was held 11-15 December 2000 in Montpellier, France; the second meeting (ICCP 2) was held 1-5 October 2001 in Nairobi, Kenya; and the third meeting (ICCP 3)was held 22-26 April 2002 in The Hague, The Netherlands, back-to-back with the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

The ICCP Bureau held more than 10 oversight meetings over a period of four years of its existence. 

The ICCP submitted its final report to the first meeting of the Parties to the Protocol which was held 23-27 February 2004 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Protocol entered into force on 11 September 2003, ninety days after the deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification.

In accordance with Article 29, paragraph 1, of the Protocol, the COP to the Convention serves as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP-MOP), the governing body of the Protocol.