The Centre is ready to promote Genetically Modified (GM) mustard crops if approved by the Ministry of Environment and Forest. GM mustard has already been cleared by an expert panel, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). Responding to a query on GM Mustard, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said GM mustard will promote genetically modified (GM) crops if approved by the Union Environment Ministry. He was briefing the media on the three-year achievements of the BJP-led NDA Government. ‘
The GEAC had earlier approved GM Brinjal in 2010 but was put on hold by then Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh in the face of huge protests from civil society groups.
On May 11, the GEAC had recommended commercial cultivation of a GM mustard variety, developed by Delhi University’s Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants, in a submission to the Environment Ministry, which is yet to give the approval.
“Whatever crops are notified, be it GM or non-GM, if scientists approve it then Ministry of Agriculture comes. The job of my Ministry is to increase production and ensure that farmers get the right price for their produce,” he said in response to a question related to the GEAC approval to GM mustard.
On the sidelines of the event, Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Pattanayak said: “GEAC has given approval to GM mustard, but we will see after the crop is notified. The process takes time and definitely it will not be available for cultivation this year. This is a crop grown in association with Government research body ICAR,” he added.
The GEAC had given a ‘positive’ recommendation to the widely-consumed crop, but with ‘certain conditions’. With its green signal, GM Mustard is a step closer to becoming India’s first edible GM crop. The decision had received sharp reactions from anti-GM activists who said such varieties will lead to huge losses for farmers as it would ‘monopolise’ the seed market.
Incidentally, the “Three Years Action Plan” of the NITI Aayog also stated that the “widespread concerns with respect to the GM crops cannot be ignored”. The document has advocated the use of alternative technology to push the high agricultural productions in the country.
The Anti-GM crop activists have urged new Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan to exercise “supreme objectivity” on decisions regarding the matter, claiming it is an “unacceptable conflict of interest” that he also holds the science and technology portfolio. Activists against Genetically Modified (GM) have asked Vardhan to reject GM mustard, claiming it is a “hazardous scientific fraud” being perpetuated on the nation.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has written to a three-page letter to Union minister Prakash Javadekar to stop the “clandestine attempt” to commercially release genetically modified (GM) mustard seeds in the country.
GM mustard has been developed by Delhi University-based Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP). If approved, it would become the first GM food crop. At present only GM cotton is allowed. There is moratorium on Bt brinjal.