Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has stirred a debate again on the adoption of genetically modified (GM) technology. Admitting that other countries have higher productivity in soyabean and pulses due to the adoption of the controversial technology, he said India cannot play with nature, and have to find a solution to increase productivity.

Addressing an event in New Delhi, organised by RSS affiliate Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), Chouhan said: “To increase production, it is necessary to have quality seeds. We are trying to get them from the laboratory to land as quickly as possible. We are trying to get them as quickly as possible, whether it is seeds or other technology, so that farmers reap the benefits of research.

“We have limitations, as we do not allow GM technology (in food crop) whereas they (many other countries) are getting bumper production using GM seeds, their cost of production is also less. There is a wide gap in productivity of soyabean and pulses between India and some other countries, because they use GM seeds. But we do not have to play with nature.”

Focus on quality seeds

He said ICAR has developed 2,900 seed varieties. But the concern is how quickly those can be made available to farmers for which the government is working seriously. From developing a technology it takes many years to commercially utilise the seeds and by that time another new higher productivity technology gets developed, he said.

The minister said the government has been focusing on developing quality seeds, improved mechanisation, changes in farming practices and sufficient capital in the hands of farmers to boost production. Mentioning the recent hike in the limit of short-term crop loan through Kisan Credit Card to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 3 lakh, he said several attempts are being made by the government to boost production.

Referring to the edible oil import duty clamped in September last year, he said the experiment did not help raise the domestic soyabean prices. “Still, we will continue such an experiment in future as well,” he told the gathering. Pointing out that the import duty was zero per cent on crude edible oil, Chouhan said the government effectively raised it to 27 per cent, making imported oils costlier so that the domestically produced oils get a market and farmers also get fair price.

BKS demands

He assured the gathering that the demands raised by BKS would be considered by the government and he would ensure that those are implemented, too. He cited that the demand to ease licensing procedure as well as separate credit facilities (through a KCC-type mechanism) for FPOs be considered.

Earlier, the general secretary of BKS, Mohini Mohan Mishra, said the KCC card, when issued to an FPO, should also become the basis for getting the licence from FSSAI and other agencies, as such a facility will help FPOs to easily brand and sell their produce. He urged the minister to involve FPOs in procurement like several state-level agencies, which purchase on behalf of FCI, Nafed and NCCF, so that there will also be competition. Chouhan assured that there will be a proper decision at an appropriate time at appropriate forum on the procurement issue as suggested by BKS.