Agri-innovations key to food security in India
In view of global food insecurity, use of biotechnology and innovations in agriculture can improve yields and provide relief to the farmers, say experts. At a workshop in India’s capital, the need for a new Green Revolution has been strongly recommended.
New Delhi: After a controversial decision by a government committee to give its approval for commercial production of Bt Brinjal in India, the country’s minister of state for agriculture K.V. Thomas has been found arguing in favour of genetically modified crops.
- K.V. Thomas, India's minister of state for agriculture/ Photo credit: Anna Nath/ OWSA
Speaking at a workshop on ‘Ensuring Food Security and Agricultural Sustainability through advances in Agri-Biotechnology’, jointly organised by TERI University and the All India Crop Biotechnology Association (AICBA) in New Delhi, he said: “The genetically modified crops debate has to be more balanced.”
Ignoring the havoc that the Bt cotton created in the country ever since it was introduced in 2002, he went on endorsing the crop: “The induction of Bt cotton has taught us that patience and endurance are as important as enthusiasm in biotech-enhanced crops. The superior performance and the disease resistance qualities of GM crops are enormous."
He, however, clarified that that there have been new safeguards proposed for GM crops. "There has been a screening and evaluation system put into position with multi-ministry participation."
“We must never be too much positive or negative. Let us be scientific, let us be practical. In the face of climate change impact, we have to improve the productivity and bring down the cost of production,” he added.
Giving his stamp of approval for controversial Bt Brinjal, Dr. C. Kameswara Rao, founder, Foundation for Biotechnology, Awareness and Education, said: “From the time of initiation till commercial release, a genetically modified crop involves more than 10 years of research by over 150 scientific and technical personnel. Bt Brinjal has been adequately tested and found to be functional and safe. Enhanced public awareness on this body of positive evidence will promote informed decisions and wider acceptance of this technology.”
- Dr R.K.Pachauri addressing the gathering/ Photo credit: Anna Nath/ OWSA
Dr R.K. Pachauri, director-general, The Energy Research Institute, was of the view that science should be harnessed in a way that people accept it. “Science and technology have enormous role to play in agricultural development. Biotechnology can play a role in facing the challenges of food security.”
“We have to clearly establish that if something is to be accepted then we have to see that it is not harmful to human lives and the environment. The area of biotechnology could become an area of promise which can lead to a second Green Revolution. We also have to see that all the resources that we employ in agriculture should be used efficiently,” he added.
With India’s population estimated to reach 1.3 billion by 2017, the Government of India estimates that the country may fall short of 14 million metric tons of food grains. This has created the need to meet rising food needs by improving India’s crop productivity through the use of technology and innovations in agriculture.
Various Indian public and private sector institutions are conducting extensive agriculture and plant research to increase food security and provide nutritionally-enhanced food to meet the nations’ growing food and nutrition.
Advances in plant biotechnology and plant genomics have received mixed responses in India. Some of the achievements have been acclaimed by end-users whereas others have faced criticisms. Therefore careful choice of modern technology as well as realistic assessment of their potential in crop improvement is needed.
Dr Swapan Dutta, deputy-director general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said: “Climate risks are common in Indian agriculture. It has been well documented that crops attain about 25% of their yield potential because of the detrimental effects of environmental stress. Land resources available to agriculture are shrinking while population continues to grow. Hence it is imperative that innovations in agriculture technology are employed to ensure food security for the country.”
- Panellists: (Left to right): Ajai Vir Jakhar, Chairman Bharat Krishak Samaj; Dr S.R.Rao, advisor, Department of Biotechnology; K.V.Thomas, minister of state for agriculture; Dr R.K. Pachauri, director-general TERI; Dr Swapan Dutta, DDG (CS), ICAR/ Photo credit: Anna Nath/ OWSA
The workshop found that plant biotechnology offers significant and tangible benefits to farmers, consumers and the environment, from increased agricultural productivity, to improved food quality, increased farmer incomes, and reduction in the environmental impacts of agriculture.
Panellists pointed out that science-based dialogue and transparency are the best approach to convince people about the advantages of biotechnology for crop improvement. They also emphasised that people must not fall prey to “negative activism” and use their rational minds to explore the potential benefits of plant biotechnology.
Food Security in India
really look for options for people to achieve food security in the immediate short or
even mid-term. Unfortunately, in the past, the food security issue was delinked from
agricultural production. Around 35
per cent world’s food insecure population lives in India and 10-15 per cent of the
total households in India are food insecure, and do not get an assurance of getting
at least two meals a day. Though PDS is a major step in bringing the food seucirty clause into the mainstream, many of the states does not get the proper support from the State itself. There are problems of health and education
15
access because of the increasing expenses incurred on costly food. Landlessness
and the casualisation of labour have grown, and the seasonality of rural work has
sharpened every decade, every year. The WTO agreement also affects the food security in different way. Hence, it's now the high time to the Goverment to come out with a new strategy to secure food in India for non-secured people.
GM crops
Who cares for conserving our national resources and protect the poor Indian farmers from the patented seed introduced by the Indian agents of foreign companies.Actually India is big market for them.In the name of science we favours massive profits of the companies.