On reverse side, 31 percent of tehsils saw increase of four or more days of heavy rainfall per year over last decade, according to Council on Energy, Environment, and Water.
MS Swaminathan, the father of the Green Revolution and globally renowned agricultural scientist, passed away in Chennai Thursday morning. He was 98 years old.
It is obscene that a man so detached from India should occupy such a powerful position in a party that governed India for most of its republican history.
About 300 employees had called in sick Wednesday, allegedly in protest against mismanagement of airlines. Remaining staff given ultimatum to rejoin work by end of Thursday.
A theme has not yet emerged for BJP & people see lack of a contest, which makes it unexciting. For all these reasons, 2024 is turning out to be an unexpectedly theme-less election.
We are stuck with Bt Brinjal and Bt Mustard release while the world of science is moving ahead at a rapid pace. Our only GM crop Cotton which occupied 98% are a of total Cotton area in India, has amongst the lowest yield in the world. China produces the same amount of Cotton in 1/3rd of the area of India. The paradox is right under the nose of Indian regulatory authorities nearly 1 million ha area has illegal GM cotton.
So it’s not about the outdated GM technology and some idealists stopping it. It’s about lack of coherent policy for understanding and addressing challenges in our ossified public/private sector R&D in modern/traditional breeding, agronomy and other disciplines. Our focus on subsidies and populist policies and neglect on irrigation, rural infrastructure, soil health/organic carbon, mechanization, warehousing/logistics.
Once in a while advocacy pops up and shoots the magic bullet of GM crops quoting the same old experts. Ofcourse China and Bangladesh are moving ahead because of something else in addition to GM crop approvals.
The maize production enhancement is need of hour to sustain feed and upcoming bioethanol sector. At present single cross hybrid coverage in India is about 45% only. Thus, single cross hybrid coverage plus best weed and nutrient management would be key to achieve this target for next decade.
After fully exploitation of this potential can switch to GM Maize. In the data presented, the Maize productivity during 1992 to present is over doubled and at present stood 3.5 t/ha which is mainly happened due to expansion of hybrid coverage and adoption of good agronomic practices led enhancement in acreage expansion and overall productivity improvement.
So. GM is not only solution in maize. Our Maize production is 70% not irrigated with 80% acreage in kharif having no big GM solution as well.
Availability of GM for drought tolerance in maize is needed for India. We have good post emergence herbicide based weed management solutions at present in maize and thus HT maize has limited scope in next few decades. The insect tolerance Maize has certain scope in my opinion and can be prioritised.
Regards
Shankar Lal Jat
Senior Scientist
ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research Delhi Unit Pusa Campus New Delhi
We are stuck with Bt Brinjal and Bt Mustard release while the world of science is moving ahead at a rapid pace. Our only GM crop Cotton which occupied 98% are a of total Cotton area in India, has amongst the lowest yield in the world. China produces the same amount of Cotton in 1/3rd of the area of India. The paradox is right under the nose of Indian regulatory authorities nearly 1 million ha area has illegal GM cotton.
So it’s not about the outdated GM technology and some idealists stopping it. It’s about lack of coherent policy for understanding and addressing challenges in our ossified public/private sector R&D in modern/traditional breeding, agronomy and other disciplines. Our focus on subsidies and populist policies and neglect on irrigation, rural infrastructure, soil health/organic carbon, mechanization, warehousing/logistics.
Once in a while advocacy pops up and shoots the magic bullet of GM crops quoting the same old experts. Ofcourse China and Bangladesh are moving ahead because of something else in addition to GM crop approvals.
The maize production enhancement is need of hour to sustain feed and upcoming bioethanol sector. At present single cross hybrid coverage in India is about 45% only. Thus, single cross hybrid coverage plus best weed and nutrient management would be key to achieve this target for next decade.
After fully exploitation of this potential can switch to GM Maize. In the data presented, the Maize productivity during 1992 to present is over doubled and at present stood 3.5 t/ha which is mainly happened due to expansion of hybrid coverage and adoption of good agronomic practices led enhancement in acreage expansion and overall productivity improvement.
So. GM is not only solution in maize. Our Maize production is 70% not irrigated with 80% acreage in kharif having no big GM solution as well.
Availability of GM for drought tolerance in maize is needed for India. We have good post emergence herbicide based weed management solutions at present in maize and thus HT maize has limited scope in next few decades. The insect tolerance Maize has certain scope in my opinion and can be prioritised.
Regards
Shankar Lal Jat
Senior Scientist
ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research Delhi Unit Pusa Campus New Delhi