Mustard (botanical name Brassica juncea) is grown around 6–7 million hectares in India. It is majorly grown in Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh. In 2017, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), India’s biotech regulator under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), had cleared genetically modified (GM) mustard but the government insisted on more studies. The GEAC took five more years to study and has finally approved the commercial production of the hybrid variety Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11(DMH-11). For the seeds to reach farmers, it could take another three years after the government’s approval for commercial cultivation.
A hybrid variety of a plant is the final plant which comes into existence when two genetically different varieties from the same or different species are crossed. The hybrid variety has higher yield than the initial variety. Since mustard is a self-pollinating plant and its flowers have both male and female reproductive organs, it was difficult to create its hybrid. Therefore, the scientists of the University of Delhi used genes from soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens to create DMH-11 by crossing ‘Varuna’ (Indian mustard variety) with ‘Early Heera-2’ (East European variety). The hybrid, DMH-11, is observed to have 28 per cent more yield than the indigenous variety, Varuna.
The GM mustard is the first crop to be approved after the non-food Bt cotton approval in 2002. This approval has paved the way for other GM crops, especially since mustard is a food crop. This can be considered a watershed moment in Indian agriculture. With this approval, other food crops including rice, wheat, brinjal, etc., may also get government approval.
Why the Need of GM Mustard
During the 1980s, India heavily depended on oil imports that cost the government around Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 crore annually. To reduce this burden on the government, a policy, called Technology Mission on Oilseeds (TMO), was launched in 1986. Consequently, the oilseed production doubled from 11 million tonnes in 1986 to 22 million tonnes in 1995. India became a net exporter from a net importer. However, that production could not improve with the increasing population and its needs.
In 2020–21, around 13.35 million tonnes of edible oil was imported, which accounts for 50–60 per cent of total consumption. Being one of the largest importers of edible oils, India imports majorly from Brazil, Argentina, Malaysia, Russia, Indonesia, and Ukraine. To reduce the burden of imports on the trade deficit and current account deficit, India once again needs to increase the productivity of oil seeds grown. Hybridisation could help improve productivity with limited resources (especially land and water).
Why the Opposition of GM Crops
Following are some of the reasons why GM mustard is opposed:
- Hybrid plant is an artificial creation by crossing two varieties. Its interaction with other crops and species could result in gene contamination leading to the loss of the original species in the long run.
- GM seeds are produced by corporate companies, which would facilitate corporate control over farming. If the power is vested with corporates, food security could be affected in the long run. If GM crops are approved it will not only affect the supply but also the price of the seeds which would prove to be a huge blow for small and marginal farmers. The overall cost of production would increase for farmers.
- Certain insects and species which feed on the natural varieties may not survive on the hybrid varieties. Thus, hybrid varieties could affect the species diversity.
- The transfer of genes from one crop to another could also create ‘super weeds.’ As ‘super weeds’ may be immune to common control methods, controlling them would become tough.
- The long-run impacts on the original species, soil, and water are not yet known. Current safety assessments are not adequate to catch a majority of harmful effects due to hybrid crops. The GM risk assessment in Indian conditions has not been made thoroughly till date.
- Once a genetically modified food crop is approved to be commercially cultivated, several other food crops might also be approved which could negatively affect the environment, and human and animal health.
- Since the seeds from the hybrid plants cannot be used for planting, farmers would be compelled to buy new seeds for every crop season.
- Farmers will become dependent on a few brands of Argo Chemical as a specific type of chemicals is used for specific crops and seeds.
- Those who work in the fields for weeding may also be affected as the crops are herbicide resistant.
Hybrid Crops in India and the World
Genetically modified cotton and brinjal have been approved in India. But Bt brinjal has been heavily opposed by the population and the NGOs for the commercial release. Bt brinjal was developed to resist attacks from fruit and shoot borers. Bt cotton was approved in 2002. Its major feature is its resistance to the pink bollworm which is a common pest in cotton plants.
Genetically modified variants of maize, canola, and soya bean are also available throughout the world.
Conclusion
GM food crops are expected to have severe side effects in the long run which may not be apparent in a short period. So, to meet the growing population needs, one of the best solutions to reduce the dependence on imports is to improve productivity. Today, the land is being exploited to the fullest with synthetic fertilisers and pesticides particularly due to the green revolution. Therefore, genetic modification seems like an optimum solution. However, the government must weigh its costs and benefits before a decision. The challengers in the areas of safety testing, regulation, industrial policy, and food labelling, etc., must be addressed by the government. Besides, our academic organisations or institutions should also come forward in guiding public perception in the GM technology and its products. And last but not the least, there is a need to strengthen, conserve and preserve traditional seeds in order to ensure food security.
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