GM crop can be a backup plan

I REFER to the letter “Still wary of GM products” (The Star, Nov 23).

There are differences between traditional and modern agricultural practices.

Traditional farming relies on ma­­nual tilling, sowing and harvesting.

Seeds are obtained by natural process of pollination and irrigation is heavily dependent on rain.

Modern agricultural practices use hybrid seeds produced through cross-pollination and breeding of different parental crop varieties, along with mechanical equipment for irrigation, tilling and harvesting to increase productivity and reduce disease occurrence.

Nowadays, commercial farming does not adopt traditional farming practices due to unpredictable output, intensive labour and low productivity.

The modern agricultural practice, not including GM farming, is widely accepted.

We now have crops that are high yield and resistant towards pathogens at the same time without gene­tic modification. This can be done through breeding of good quality seeds, where selection is done using genetic markers.

I think the writer is confused with the term “GM farming” and it might have been misunderstood with the status of agriculture in India.

India does have GM crop and is still struggling to release its first GM food crop. So far, India permits only one GM crop, a variety of cotton that has transgenes to ward off certain insects.

In 2010, the Indian government barred commercial planting of an insect-resistant aubergine (brinjal) because of nationwide protests. In 2014, some field trials resumed.

In September 2016, India’s environment ministry released a review that found no safety concerns with the GM mustard (Brassica juncea).

The Indian prime minister be­­lieves GM crops could help boost agricultural productivity to feed 1.5 billion people by 2030.

I believe the writer is confused between modern farming and GM farming.

It’s true that farmers are going back to organic farming be­­cause of several benefits like higher premium to be earned by selling organic products abroad and in India.

Globally, there is health concern and growing concern over toxic, adulterated food in the market.

Therefore, making only GM crops as a threat would be wrong; we need to see the overall picture. Scientists are there to serve mankind and its basic needs.

Why would a government fund a research which is not favourable for mankind?

Let’s keep GM crops ready as a backup plan while there is a threat of food security prevailing worldwide.

Dr Gopal Ji Tiwari

Research Associate

Kolkata, India