Farmers Welfare & Agriculture Development Minister Ramkrishna Kusmaria has described that support of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to GM crops is improper. Kusmaria said that Sharad Pawar has described that GM crops is important in the success of Food Security Act, which is wrong.
Kusmaria said that there is no role of GM crops in record production of grains in the country. The Agriculture Minister said that GM crops are also contrary to recommendations of Genetic Engineering Approval Committee of Union Environment Ministry.
He said that the committee has put a check on GM crops’ experiment. Kusmaria has referred to the study of the prohibitory recommendations of the Committee by the Supreme Court also.
Kusmaria said that advocacy of GM crops by Sharad Pawar goes to show that he wishes to bring gene-based crops to the country and in a situation when such crops are being opposed in India and abroad.
Concluding his statement, Dr. Kusmaria said that Madhya Pradesh government has already banned GM crops. The State Government has also registered objection to the Union Government in this regard. Kusmaria said that agriculture is state subject in federal system and only the State Government can decide on it.