Why in news?
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) recently cleared the proposal for genetically modified (GM) mustard.
How effective was Bt Cotton?
- Bt cotton promised of higher yield and lower pesticide usage in the 1990s.
- Despite increased fertilisers and irrigation, the expectations of enhanced cotton yield have not been realised.
- Most of the countries that have higher cotton yields than India do not grow GM cotton.
What are the shortcomings of GM Mustard?
- Yield - The yield claims on GM mustard are not very reliable.
- U.S. and Canada uses GM mustard.
- But the highest yields in mustard are from the five countries which do not grow GM mustard — U.K., France, Poland, Germany and Czech Republic.
- Evaluation - The risks to health, environment and agriculture have not been evaluated.
- Those inadequate tests which were conducted on Bt brinjal were also ignored, even though mustard is far more extensively grown and consumed than brinjal.
- HT (herbicide tolerant) GM crops have been condemned by a number of medical professionals.
- Weed - A herbicide-tolerant crop promotes constant exposure to a single herbicide — which eventually results in weeds becoming resistant.
- Health - A scientific report from Argentina found a fourfold increase in birth defects and a threefold increase in childhood cancers in HT soya areas.
- Studies have shown a strong correlation between growth of GM crops & herbicides used in U.S. and diseases such as acute kidney injury, diabetes, autism, Alzheimer’s and cancers.
- Seventeen of the 20 most developed countries — including Japan, Russia, Israel and most of Europe — refuse to grow GM crops.
- The millions of poor women who depend on weeding to support their family will be displaced.
- Indian will lose its seed diversity and the international competitive advantage of its non-GM mustard.
What should be done?
- If India wants to increase its mustard yield rapidly and safely, this can be done by adopting the practice of System of Mustard Intensification.
- Successful trials have been done in Bihar through a World Bank and results showed higher yields and better income.
Source: The Hindu
