After the success of the farmers’ agitation, 14 unions came together to contest the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections under the Samyukta Samaj Morcha. They failed to win a single seat.
In his book, ‘Joint Farming X-rayed’, Chaudhary Charan Singh marshalled facts from the FAO, USDA, and independent newspapers to show that collective farming had failed everywhere.
Satellite data shows that between 1 and 14 October, 158 fires were reported in UP, and 70 in MP. Punjab and Haryana recorded only 39 and 9 fires respectively.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
‘We have pampered our plants so much that they have lost their ability to fight against what’s trying to kill them,' said Shivaprasad, associate dean of research, NCBS, Bengaluru.
A quiet transformation took place in India’s rural economy within five years of MSP’s introduction. All doubts about India's ability to feed itself were laid to rest.
Indian agriculture education is stuck in the Green Revolution era. ICAR reforms aim to modernise curricula with skills in AI, climate tech, and global markets.
IndusInd Bank CEO Sumant Kathpalia said microfinance loan disbursal slowed in April-June due to LS polls and heatwaves, adding that rural areas were recovering from pandemic impact.
While the Russia-Ukraine war saw the BJP projecting PM Modi as a ‘vishwaguru’ who could end international conflicts, the party has made a nuanced shift in its electoral strategy vis-à-vis the West Asia war.
It’s easy to understand why the government can’t speak the hard truth. When this war ends, as all wars do, India’s interests will lie with both the winner and the loser.
Check the Nature article at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-020-0615-5
It cites that improvements in yield with Bt cotton was about 24%, while without Bt cotton was about 18%. It is not much. Also, the pests that affect Bt cotton now are different, for which the genetic modifications are now not working any more…
Finally, how can we promote strategies where GM crops are designed to be herbicide resistant, and then spray herbicides indiscriminately to kill all other species?
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
Check the Nature article at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-020-0615-5
It cites that improvements in yield with Bt cotton was about 24%, while without Bt cotton was about 18%. It is not much. Also, the pests that affect Bt cotton now are different, for which the genetic modifications are now not working any more…
Finally, how can we promote strategies where GM crops are designed to be herbicide resistant, and then spray herbicides indiscriminately to kill all other species?
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