India under Modi ready for GM

 

In a refreshing change from the usual coyness exhibited by UPA government for many years that led to a logjam on the introduction of GM technology in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 26 asserted the significance of technology-driven agriculture including introduction of genetically engineered crops. The issue of GM crops is awaiting a final verdict in the Supreme Court.

 

Modi was among the first chief ministers in the country to have realized the potential that this technology offered and embraced Bt Cotton in Gujarat, which has benefitted millions of farmers. After the introduction of Bt Cotton in India in 2002, by 2010 India had turned from a net importer to a net exporter of cotton. Millions of farmers gained by introduction of Bt Cotton - because it arrested losses substantially, productivity went up and incomes of farmers recorded a steep rise, leading to much better social and economic lives for their families.  

 

The stand taken by the Prime Minister helps clear confusion over the position of the Government on GM crops, even though the matter will be settled only after the Supreme Court gives a ruling in the matter.

 

Modi articulated the need for GM with a good example of pulses. “Today, the country has to import pulses. Let’s resolve that by 2022 we will no longer have to import pulses… I have been telling our universities… our agricultural universities should take up each variety of pulses… how to do research in it, how to do genetic engineering in it, how to increase productivity, how to increase protein content so that farmers get good prices.”  

 

Modi’s conviction is also borne out by empirical evidence. In 2014, a record 181.5 million hectares of biotech crops were grown globally, an increase of more than six million hectares from 2013, according to a report released recently by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA). With the addition of Bangladesh, a total of 28 countries grew biotech crops during the year. The 20 developing and eight industrial countries where biotech crops are produced represent more than 60 percent of the world’s population.

 

Naturally, there is a growing adoption of GM technology world over. What is best, farmers across the globe have shown robust commitment towards the use of this technology - and this would not have happened had they not seen significant gains out of using Bt seeds as against conventional seeds.

 

Scientific evidence and hard facts are for GM crops. Any progressive nation, driven by a visionary leader like Modi, would go for this technology which spells immense benefits for its farmers. 

 

India has lagged behind. With Modi, we are likely to catch up fast.