Agribusiness – Genetically Modified Crops
AGRIBUSINESS – GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS
Summary
Genetically modified crops are plants, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering techniques, to resist pests and agents causing harm to plants and to improve the growth of these plants to assist in farmers’ efficiency. The introduction of GM crops into the Indian agricultural has resulted in many changes to the sector. Such crops and seeds are genetically engineered to make them sterile and unusable for replanting, resulting in farmers having to buy new seeds from a central supplier each year. The GM crops were observed to be harmful to health and the government imposed temporary ban on some of the types of GM crops. The agricultural scientists should focus on biodiversity and come out with models so as to bring diversity in farming and reduce the risk of dependency on GM crops.
Introduction
The agriculture sector has enhanced food grain production in the past six decades; from 50 million tonnes in the 1950s to 241 million tonnes in 2010-2011. Despite these achievements, the condition of the farming community is declining, where 70 per cent of our farmers are small and marginal. However, for almost a decade, there have been different views expressed by agricultural scientists, NGOs, the government and also Members of Parliament. In recent years, the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) have come up with very different views and recommendations. The PSC undertook a study on all aspects related to the opposition and controversies surrounding GM crops and the differences of opinion among stakeholders with clear objectives of assessing the pros and cons of introducing GM crops. In India, the only commercialised GM crop is Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) cotton. Besides health safety issues, critics point out that BT cotton is a highly-pollinating variety and its pollen can easily travel and contaminate adjoining crops using normal seeds, inhibit their seed
Summary
Genetically modified crops are plants, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering techniques, to resist pests and agents causing harm to plants and to improve the growth of these plants to assist in farmers’ efficiency. The introduction of GM crops into the Indian agricultural has resulted in many changes to the sector. Such crops and seeds are genetically engineered to make them sterile and unusable for replanting, resulting in farmers having to buy new seeds from a central supplier each year. The GM crops were observed to be harmful to health and the government imposed temporary ban on some of the types of GM crops. The agricultural scientists should focus on biodiversity and come out with models so as to bring diversity in farming and reduce the risk of dependency on GM crops.
Introduction
The agriculture sector has enhanced food grain production in the past six decades; from 50 million tonnes in the 1950s to 241 million tonnes in 2010-2011. Despite these achievements, the condition of the farming community is declining, where 70 per cent of our farmers are small and marginal. However, for almost a decade, there have been different views expressed by agricultural scientists, NGOs, the government and also Members of Parliament. In recent years, the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) have come up with very different views and recommendations. The PSC undertook a study on all aspects related to the opposition and controversies surrounding GM crops and the differences of opinion among stakeholders with clear objectives of assessing the pros and cons of introducing GM crops. In India, the only commercialised GM crop is Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) cotton. Besides health safety issues, critics point out that BT cotton is a highly-pollinating variety and its pollen can easily travel and contaminate adjoining crops using normal seeds, inhibit their seed
References: 1. Colin Todhunter (2013), " Genetically Engineered 'Terminator Seeds '. Death and Destruction of Agriculture", Global Research (21January). (http://www.globalresearch.ca/genetically-engineered-terminator-seeds-death-and-destruction-of-agriculture/5319797) 2. Darryl D’Monte (2012), “Are genetically modified crops finally on their way out of India?”, FirstPost India, (3 December). (http://www.firstpost.com/india/are-genetically-modified-crops-finally-on-their-way-out-of-india-543788.html) 3. Henry I. Miller (2012), “India’s genetic engineering dilemma”, LiveMint (6 December) (http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/FTFuJAbFTXzAjL9bu4O19J/Indias-genetic-engineering-dilemma.html) 4. Syed Mohammad Ali ( 2012), " Agribusiness versus poor farmers ",The Express Tribune (6 November). (http://tribune.com.pk/story/461672/agribusiness-versus-poor-farmers/)