More than 30 countries of the world are growing GM crops on more than 400 million acres of land. This includes both developed and developing countries like USA, China, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, India, South Africa etc. India allowed commercialization of Bt cotton ten years ago. Today more than 10 million hectares of land is under cotton cultivation and 92% of the total area is under Bt cotton.
India became an exporter of cotton from importer of this fibre. Yet there is a vocal opposition by minority while silent majority watches in dismay. Anti GM activists are vehemently opposing the use of this technology for other crops. Three years back India did not permit the commercialization of Bt brinjal which was a big blow to use of biotech for improvement of crops.
Though transgenic crops are not the final answer to all our agricultural problems. At present one cannot ignore this sunrise technology which has revolutionized the world agriculture by improving yield and making them more nutritious. Organic farming though safe when practiced on a large scale cannot meet the food requirement of highly progressing population of our country. Introduction of a foreign gene simply helps to achieve its full potential and productivity without any yield loss due to stress.
Read the full, original article: MORATORIUM OR NO MORATORIUM
Additional Resources:
- Who is Vandana Shiva and why is she saying such awful things about GMOs?, Genetic Literacy Project
- Indian PM says government should not succumb to “unscientific prejudices” against GM crops, Economic Times (India)
- Developing world food crisis: Can hungry countries afford to say ‘no’ to GM crops?, Forbes India