GM Crops in India
Scenario for GM crops worldwide:
- Resistance to GM food crops has always existed. Many people have launched a significant push in this direction. However, GM crops have been widely utilised since 1996.
- By 2019, 190 million hectares of land will have been planted with GM crops, with soybeans and maize in the US, Brazil, and Argentina leading the way, followed by canola (rapeseed/mustard) in Canada. These crops don’t endanger the environment or the health of either people or animals (see infographics).
- There is a lot of evidence to back it up. Btbrinjal is improving, even in Bangladesh. The use of GM crops has received support from more than 70 nations.
GM crop coverage in India:
- In 2002, the Vajpayee administration released Bt cotton, the country’s first genetically modified crop.
- Atal Bihar Vajpayee, the prime minister at the time, thought that science might change agriculture. He substituted “jai vigyan” for Lal Bahadur Shastri’s original “jai jawan, jai kisan” salutation to the military and farmers (salutation to science).
Let’s examine what transpired when the Government of India chose to use Bt cotton in 2002:
- The infamous “gene revolution” was ushered in thanks to the startling surge in cotton production, which rose by 192 percent in just 12 years from 13.6 million bales (1 bale = 170 lb) in 2002-03 to 39.8 million bales in 2013-14.
- While the area planted with cotton increased by 56%, with approximately 95% of that area being planted with Bt cotton, cotton production jumped by 76% from 302 kg per hectare in 2002-03 to 566 kg per hectare in 2013-14.
- Farmers of cotton benefit further because their incomes have greatly grown.
- India presently ranks second in the world for both cotton production (after China) and exports (after the US)
There are several places where GM crops shouldn’t be cultivated (Bt-cotton):
- The success of Bt cotton can help policymakers in many ways, but there is still room for discussion and dispute. NGOs, civil society organisations, and farmer groups have occasionally voiced a variety of concerns in an effort to highlight the dangers of GM crops.
Some of these consist of:
- sucking bugs are causing increasing harm to bt cotton;
- a rise of secondary pests such sporoptera and mired bugs;
- higher resilience to pests;
How we already consume GM foods in our diets unknowingly:
- Given that GMOs have long been present in our food chain, this is incredibly ironic. India depends heavily on imports for its edible oil needs, which account for between 55 and 60 percent of its domestic use.
- These three to four million tonnes per year, all of which are generated using GM technology, are mostly grown in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, the US, and other countries (in soybean and canola).
- We use a lot of our own cotton seed oil, and about 95% of our cotton is now genetically modified (binola). Additionally, the cattle are fed cotton seed, which raises the milk’s fat content.
- Even corn and soy, two ingredients in chicken feed, are imported. It is therefore clear that GM food has long been a component of our food supply.
While taking into account their potential benefits, GM crops must be allowed:
- Therefore, by continuing to oppose GM mustard or even Btbrinjal, one is depriving farmers who want to enhance their income of their fundamental rights.
- The most effective method to accomplish this is through persistent productivity growth.
- Field tests comparing GM mustard to native varieties in different locales revealed a 25–28% better yield and improved disease resistance.
- This could result in a significant increase in the amount of locally produced mustard oil available as well as farmer earnings.
- India was predicted to lead the genetic revolution and develop into a significant export hub for other Asian and African nations. The Bt revolution may have altered agriculture similarly to how the IT revolution altered computer science.
- Sadly, farmers have paid a steep price for our policy stagnation on GM technologies from 2003 to 2021, which was prompted by pressure from activists and ideologues. India is no longer leading the way. But catching up to the gene revolution is still better done late than never.
Conclusion and Next Steps:
- Conflict is a sign of a functioning democracy and is necessary for the system of checks and balances. However, once the safety testing is through and the scientific organisation (GEAC) has given the go-ahead, political leadership is required to maintain a science-based approach to decision-making.
- Science will underpin agriculture in the future, and those who accept and advance this now will succeed. Since innovation is the name of the game, Prime Minister Modi’s slogan, “Jai Anusandhan,” is appropriate.
- However, it won’t mean much unless the government puts GM mustard, HtBt cotton, Btbrinjal, and even GM soy and corn into use.