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.
