scorecardresearch
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomeIndiaGovt backs environmental release of GM mustard, says can help 'reduce forex...

Govt backs environmental release of GM mustard, says can help ‘reduce forex drain on agri-import’

When it comes to solving challenges while also being safe for people, animals, and the environment, GM technology is a game-changing innovation, the ministry claims.

Follow Us :
Text Size:

New Delhi: Late October this year, the Government approved environmental release of genetically modified (GM) mustard, also called DMH-11, developed by the University of Delhi. To dispel all myths and misconceptions about the DMH 11 propagated by its opponents, the ministry issued a detailed statement in public interest, hailing GM mustard as a “much-needed revolution in Indian agriculture.”

In 2017 too, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee’s (GEAC’s) attempt at the commercial release of this technology was impeded by activist groups and the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), stating that it was “unscientific, toxic and anti-biodiversity”.

When it comes to solving problems that are challenging while also being safe for people, animals, and the environment, GM technology is a game-changing innovation, the ministry of agriculture & farmers’ welfare claims. 


Also read: Three quota storms that will hit the BJP—Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand


Mustard production meagre

During the GEAC’s 147th meeting held on 18 October when the GM Mustard’s environmental release was approved, Bhagirath Choudhary, founder director of Delhi-based South Asia Biotechnology Centre said that around a tonne per hectare is the meagre mustard production in India, which is appallingly low when compared to nations that cultivate canola and rapeseed, such as Canada, China, and Australia.

At present, India is the world’s second-largest consumer and number one vegetable oil importer, meeting roughly 60 per cent of its needs through imports. It is already importing GM Canola oil for its domestic needs. 

The ministry’s statement highlights that self-reliance in edible oil production is the need of the hour in India and it can significantly help reduce the forex drain on agri-import.

Moreover, hybrids offer increased yield and adaptation which is known as hybrid vigourorheterosis and has previously been done in crops such as sunflower, rice, maize and other vegetables. 

“It has been convincingly demonstrated that hybrids in general show 20-25 per cent higher yield over the conventional varieties across the crops. Hybrid technology can play an important role in enhancing the productivity of rapeseed mustard in the country,” said Secretary Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and DG Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Himanshu Pathak in an online statement released by the ministry on 23 December. 

Pathak also backed the safety of the three genes – Barnase, Barstar and Bar – used to modify the crop. “It is pertinent to mention that the extensive studies carried out on toxicity, allergenicity, compositional analysis, field trials, and environmental safety studies of GM mustard lines vs their non-transgenic comparators have provided evidence that they are safe for cultivation and for food and feed use,” he said. 

Three years of constrained field trials have been conducted at various sites around India to compare DMH-11 to the national check, Varuna. Field tests were carried out in accordance with the established norms and relevant laws to evaluate the effects on human health and the environment. It was revealed that DMH-11 produced a yield that was about 28 per cent higher than the national check, he added. 

GM crops are no daunting futuristic technology. In over 30 countries all over the world, GM crops are grown on 195 million hectares of land. Citing an example of other countries such as USA, Argentina and Brazil exporting these crops, the secretary said, “These countries export bulk of their produce from GM crops to other countries, including the EU, as animal feed and earn substantial foreign exchange from them.”

(Edited by Smriti Sinha)


Also read: Modi govt has done a perfect job battling Covid so far. Now preparedness, caution are key


 

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular