Facts & Figures
A growing body of evidence suggests that biotechnology is helping agriculture enter a new era of efficiency and sustainability. In the hands of farmers, better seeds are helping the world grow more, while using less. Researchers around the world, in both the public and private sectors, are working to improve seeds through the use of advanced breeding and biotechnology. Together with better farming techniques, these advanced seeds can help farmers meet the world's demand for food, clothing and fuel while also helping to reducing the need for water, land, pesticides and fossil fuels. In this month's Spotlight, we'll highlight the findings of a new report on the status of biotech crops, and discuss their role in meeting our growing global challenges.
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India
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| Population in thousands (2010) | 1,214,464 |
| Average life expectancy (2008) | 64 |
| GDP per capita (2008) | $2,842.54 |
| Gross GPD in billions (2008) | $3,358.22 |
| Agriculture's share of GDP (2006) | 17.5% |
| Population below poverty line (2004) | rural: 43.83%; urban: 36.16% |
India
India is located in South Asia and has a population of nearly 1.2 billion people (2010), making it the second most populous country in the world. Agriculture employs 52 percent of the country’s population (2003) and accounts for 17.5 percent of the country’s GDP (2006). India is one of the world’s largest producers of agricultural commodities such as rice, wheat, tea and cotton. Indian farmers planted biotech cotton for the first time in 2002. Since adoption, farm income gains from biotech crops have been $3.2 billion. To learn more about India’s agriculture production and the role it plays in feeding, clothing and fueling the world, see the charts below.
