India Cannot Oppose GM, Agric Minister Says

India's Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas said that the country cannot oppose the use of biotechnology as it wants to increase crop yields. An article by the Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted Thomas as saying "the country needs to take scientific and practical steps to improve productivity and bring down cost of production. The GM technology is one way to achieve this." The Minister however pointed out that when it comes to food products from GM technology, it "should be a matter of choice." Thomas' views were supported by Swapan Datta, deputy head of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The ICAR head noted that "new generation crops" that can survive extreme weather conditions should be developed. "The climate change will further add difficulties to our present food crisis," Datta said to PTI.

The original article is available at http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/07131806.htm