Field trials of more genetically modified crops under way.
Even as a national debate rages on about possible commercial use of Bt brinjal in India, field trials of three other genetically modified (GM) crops are under way in the country at multiple locations.
To start with, bio-safety research level-I (BRL-I) trials of Bt rice have been completed and further research is underway. BRL-I is the process where genetically modified crops are grown in open conditions in half-acre area under the supervision of scientists.
The entities that are promoting Bt rice in the country are Bayer Bioscience Private Limited, Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Limited (Mahyco), and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
The government is targeting a 40% jump in rice production in India — from 93 million tonne in 2002 to 129 million tonne by 2011-2012 — to meet the growing demand for rice. India is the second-largest rice consumer in the world after China.
The second genetically modified crop that is in line for commercial use is okra, popularly called bhindi. Field trials of this crop are already underway in some states, officials said.
Mahyco is also pushing for the introduction of a new version of genetically modified cotton. Called the RRF cotton, it has been developed in India and field trials are underway.
“We want to introduce RRF cotton and okra for commercial use in the country. But I think, this would take some more time because of the growing resistance to Bt brinjal in our country,” MK Sharma, general manager of Mahyco, said.
He said the RRF cotton is herbicide-tolerant and it would be superior to Bt cotton. “There is a misconception that GM crops increase yield. The fact is that they only reduce losses to pests. GM crops are beneficial for farmers as they reduce the use of pesticides and insecticides.”
“It is difficult to give a time frame to start commercial use of these products, primarily because of the speed at which things are moving in the government,” said Sharma. A section of people are always ready to dismiss new technology, he added.
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