Does Genetically Modified Mustard give poor yields?

Now an environment ministry body, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, is mulling over a decision to clear genetically-modified (GM) mustard for commercial use in India. But leaving the matter of environmental safety, important as it is, aside for a moment: does GM mustard give poor yields as Mahajan claims?

Dr Ashwani Mahajan had said, "Genetically Modified Mustard is not acceptable. We have provided proof that GM mustard is not capable of giving high yields."

The GM mustard variety being considered for approval at the moment is Dhara Mustard Hybrid 11 or DMH-11. According to trials conducted between 2010 and 2014 by the Rajasthan-based Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, the ‘Varuna’ variety (a ‘parent’ of DMH-11) gave a mean seed yield (MSY) of 2199kg/hectare (kg/ha). By comparison, DMH-11 gave a MSY of 2824kg/ha, that is, a per cent increase of around 28%.

So there may be plenty of issues with GM mustard, but if the study done by the country’s premier mustard research body is anything to go by, its ability to give a higher yield isn’t one of them. DMH 11GM mustard variety being considered for approval