Genetically Modified Crops: Boon or Bane?

With the recent bitter controvery over the bt-brinjal, which is supposed to be the world's first GM(Genetically modified) vegetable crop, it has been clear that the path for the requisite second green revolution is not easy. Politicians are quibbling about the trivialities and immaturely biased media remarks are further worsening its advancement. It is evident that an increasing need of second green revolution has been felt since a decade. Because first green revolution of late sixties is nt going to serve us endlessly. And especially since last one decade there is a constant pressure on india's food security and its enability to feed its billion plus population.

In sixties when Kalyan sona and Sonalika varieties of wheat,also called dwarf wheat, developed in japan and tested in mexico, were intorduced in indian soil, a major breakthrough in Wheat productivity started to be visualized. As these varieties were more rust resistant, high yielding and adaptable to different soils and climate conditions of the country. From where started india's journey towards wheat self-sufficiency. And within a period of few years only we became a wheat importer to a major wheat exporter. So this led to the path of First Green Revolution of India and this achievement was purely scientific and research based.

India's wheat production in 1966-67 was meagre 11 lack tonne with productivity of 900 kg/hac. While during the year 2001-02 it reached to an audacious 70 lakh tonne with productivity of 2800 kg/hac(almost threefold increase). India exported 30 lakh tonne of wheat, of worth Rs 1400 cr, during 2001-02 and stood second only after China. Similar is the story of other crops like Rice, sugarcane, cotton etc. But with the passage of time in near future india's food capacity will have to face some unprecedented problems like climate change, overdependence on monsoon and excessive ground water exploitation apart from its ever increasing population, improvident use of water in agriculture and depletion of water resources. Our agriculture is increasingly becoming vulnerable towards these problems. So the traditional ways of agriculture which require huge amount of water, especially in rice, will not be affordable to us. And in future we will need those crops which are better adaptable to global warming, untimely rainfall and are more resistant. Also we lose 20% of food grains during storage which is absolutely avoidable. Most of these problems can not be handled with the traditional ways of farming and conventinal seeds. So once again we would have to look at science and at Genetically modified crops. These advanced seeds can offer all the desirable advantages that we need in a crop like high yield, more resistance, adaptablility and ability to be grown in drier soils.

GM cotton has been successfully used in india without much unnecessary fuss neither by politicions nor by media. Though introducution of any new GM seed must pass through proper screening tests and trials. Because it is as much risky as it looks advantageous. So in case of Bt-brinjal, it is must for the government to ensure the suitability and safety of it. Being the first GM seed of the world it helds serious responsibilty because if got successful it may lead the path for the rest of GM crops. So making haste is not wise. Lets not introduce it in haste and make it unpopular because of its unfavourable untested aspects. We should encourage its research and adequate safety trials and suitability measures. For future food safety for 1.35 billion people by 2030, and amidst all climate change uncertainity, only GM crops can assures food for that much huge population for innumerable time. Public concerns must be taken into account and must be handled judiciously and with humility, but let not these things hamper our future food security.