JOIN USWith the government set to petition the Supreme Court to allow trial of genetically modified (GM) crops, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has cautioned against falling prey to “unscientific prejudices” against such crops.
“While safety must be ensured, we should not succumb to unscientific prejudices against GM crops. Our government remains committed to promoting the use of these new technologies for agriculture development,” said Singh at the 101st session of Indian Science Congress that began here on Monday.
The remarks come days before the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment and Forests are to approach the apex court with a plea to remove the ban it had imposed in 2006 on conducting field trials of GM crops while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL).
The government had permitted cultivation of genetically engineered Bt cotton—which contains gene from a soil microbe—way back in 2001. But when Bt brinjal had come close to commercialisation in 2009 after obtaining all regulatory approvals, then environment minister Jairam Ramesh had put an indefinite moratorium on GM eggplants and raised questions on engineered crops.
“To ensure food security and improve land and water productivity, we have to launch a national drive for an evergreen revolution. This will test the ingenuity of our agricultural scientists. Climate-resilient agriculture and modern biotechnological tools hold great promise,” said Singh here, amplifying the government's support on GM crops.
Bangladesh in 2013 became the first country in Asia to allow commercial farming of Bt brinjal.