India's Agriculture Minister Endorses GM Crops for Food Security

India's Union Agriculture Minister Mr. Radha Mohan Singh expressed his support for genetically modified (GM) crops, saying that technologically enhanced seeds could help India achieve its food security target. Mr. Singh believes that GM crops hold great promise in reducing crop productivity losses due to flood and drought.

Speaking during the inauguration of India Seed Congress 2015 held at Agra, Mr. Singh said "While agriculture feeds the nation, seeds feed agriculture. Bt Cotton in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has clearly demonstrated what these new technologies can do to boost farmer incomes." He pointed out that agri-income could rise further when technologies like herbicide tolerance, drought tolerance, nitrogen use efficiency, nutrition enhancement would be introduced commercially in India. "Losses that occur due to droughts, floods, salinity, biotic and other abiotic stresses also need to be eliminated decisively through the adoption of appropriate technologies. In this context, genetic engineering holds great promise, increase farmers' incomes and quality food supply to consumers at affordable prices; and substantially increase productivity leading to greater farmer incomes and farmer well-being, he said.

In his speech at the Seed Congress, the Minister also emphasized that the superior genetics in seed combined with improved agronomic traits shall be the key strategy for breaking the yield barriers. He said that the private seed industry has significantly contributed and successfully complemented public sector efforts. The Government shall therefore support public-private partnership initiatives for the development of the sector, he said. He also stressed that appropriate policy support for seed improvements through conventional and biotech methods, in combination with improved agronomic practices, would greatly help ensure food and nutritional security of the country.

For more details, read the news article from India's Ministry of Agriculture Press Information Bureau.