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Informist, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024

 

NEW DELHI – Genetically modified seeds are the only way forward for better agricultural practices and output, Agriculture Commissioner P.K. Singh said Tuesday at the FICCI Crop Protection Summit. “There has been a lot of discussion on genetically modified seeds in the past 20 years," he said. "But it is all a matter of perception.”

 

Arguing that the country needs to discuss and research the side effects, if any, of genetically modified seeds, he pointed out that when fertilisers such as urea were first used, no one predicted they would be harmful. “We did it at the time of the Green Revolution because that was the need of the hour," Singh said. "But we need to draw a roadmap on how we can go about launching these new variety seeds.”

 

According to Singh, the government is promoting measures such as integrated pest management systems that use natural pest control measures. “The all-India coordinated research project which tests the new material at different locations is working on location-specific pest control as well,” he said.

 

Pushing the case for modified seed varieties, he said the government is also working to develop new pest-resistant varieties of seeds which will help the cause of sustainability. “For example, Pusa Basmati 1847, a new basmati variety for Haryana and Punjab, is resistant to pollen disease and also tolerates pollen pest, thus reducing the use of chemicals when planted,” he said.

 

He urged industry to also contribute with solutions if new pests and diseases are found in these or newer varieties of crops. “Epidemics are now rare, but somehow some varieties still get infected, which may be happening due to some kind of breakdown of the steps of gene-to-gene hypothesis,” he said.

 

On the rising complexities in global trade and issues of maximum residue limits, he said, “We (India) are facing a lot of difficulties in view of maximum residue limits and rejection of our material going as exports has increased because of this... this is definitely a problem for regulators as well as industry. Sustainability is the way to go here.”

 

A maximum residue limit is the highest level of pesticide residue that is legally tolerated in food or feed. Earlier this year, certain exports by India's two major spice brands--MDH and Everest--were rejected by Singapore and Hong Kong citing high residues.

 

In a statement to the World Trade Organization in April, India termed this movement towards stringent maximum residue limit thresholds for pesticides a "concerning trend" and pushed for guidelines to determine default maximum residue limits. “These trends are trade-restrictive...," the government said. "The unilateral measures based on considerations other than food safety disregard the local circumstances of agricultural practices."  End

 

Reported by Pallavi Singhal

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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