Days after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) -affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) opposed the environmental release of genetically modified (GM) mustard hybrid for cultivation saying it could cause cancer and is injurious to health, a group of scientists has hailed the move, terming it a landmark decision.
The scientists, under the umbrella of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) and the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), said it would break a long logjam on the release of GM food crops. “The GM technology for hybrid seed production developed by the University of Delhi will play an important role in reducing the edible oil import burden and in moving towards self-sufficiency in edible oil production.
The decision to release GM mustard will encourage more research and innovations to reduce the environmental footprints of agriculture, develop climate resilient crops, and thereby assure food and nutritional security of the country,” scientists Trilochan Mohapatra, RS Paroda and KC Bansal said in a statement here. They said that at present India had a deficit production of edible oils by almost 55-60% of the total consumption.
“In the financial year 2020-21, around 13.35 million tonnes of edible oils were imported at a total cost of around ? 117,000 crore in foreign exchange. India desperately requires an increase in the productivity of oilseed crops grown in the country.
The average mustard yield in India is 1.0-1.3 tonnes/hectare. This has been stagnant for almost two decades. Globally, yields of rapeseed have considerably increased with the introduction of hybrids. More than 90% of the rapeseed crop in Canada, grown in around 8.7 million hectares, is under hybrids. Most of the rapeseed grown in China and Europe is also hybrids,” they added. The scientists added that hybrid varieties had helped the country. They said that GM Mustard could be grown in the fields safely.
They added that trials conducted over three years at eight locations under the supervision of Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Directorate Of Rapeseed Mustard Research showed that the variety had a yield advantage of 28% over the mega variety Varuna and 37% over the zonal checks. In its letter to the Centre, the BSK had alleged that GEAC, Delhi University and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) are working hand-in-glove in matters pertaining to Genetic Modification in food crops.
Mohini Mohan Mishra, All India General Secretary of BKS said that the actions of the GEAC are unscientific, non socio-economic in cases of GM crop and asked the Government to revisit the matter. The SJM wrote to Union Environment Minister urging him to ensure that crop's "dangerous" seed is not allowed to be planted "now or ever".