India unlikely to approve GMO mustard in time for coming growing season

The debate around genetically modified crops and a recent PIL in the Supreme Court may force the government to delay its final decision on GM mustard. With the transgenic variety of mustard unlikely to be released for the coming Rabi (winter crop) season, the focus will be on non-GM varieties to help increase production.

Transgenic mustard not getting cleared in the near future may disappoint agriculture scientists but it will not affect the country’s research in public institutions on non-GM high-yielding hybrid and non-hybrid seed varieties.

After all, the efforts of Indian agriculture scientists saw the nation record a five fold increase in foodgrain production in six decades….

. . . .

“Conventional plant breeding has given India very good sustainable agricultural production in major food crops like wheat and rice. Good varieties, which have better adaptation and yield, are quickly adopted by farmers,” K V Prabhu, IARI’s joint director of research, told TOI.

. . . .

However, he emphasised that GM technology was “the most viable option” if India wanted to continue its self dependence in foodgrains in the scenario where crops face various kinds of stresses.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Non-GM seeds helped up production 5-fold in 60 years

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