Lok Sabha Question No. 1928 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Cultivation of GM Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1928

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  MARCH, 2020

## CULTIVATION OF GM CROPS

1928.   SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  growth  of  genetically-modified  (GM)  crops  has  dipped  for  the  first  time following two decades of steady increases and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether GM remains controversial in many countries, stirring sharp debate over the crops' use and impact and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the Ministry's stand on commercialization of Genetically Modified crops, the details in this regard; and
- (d) the details of the GM crops which have been approved and the ones which have not been approved and the rationale therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): Area,  production  and  productivity  of  Bt.  cotton  has  increased  steadily  since  its introduction in India, barring minor fluctuation in few years. Details of year-wise area under cotton, Bt. cotton, production and yield of cotton during 2002-03 to 2019-20 is annexed at annexure -I.
- (b): Most of the countries are signatory to the Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety which has well defined mechanism of regulation of Genetically Modified (GM) crops including bio-safety evaluation  and  environmental  release.  Further,  acceptance  of  GM  crops  has  increased  at global level and area under GM crops increased from 1.7 Million hectare in 1996 to 191.7 Million hectares in 2018.
- (c): The aim of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) is to achieve the goal of food security and nutritional requirements for a growing population by  using  best  available  technology  and  scientific  inputs  that  are  beneficial  to  farmers  and safe for environment & human health.
- (d): Bt.  cotton  is  the  only  GM  crop  approved  by  the  Genetic  Engineering  Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in 2002 for commercial cultivation in the country. Ministry of Environment,  Forest  &  Climate  Change  informed  that  they  have  received  feedback  from multiple stakeholders for and against release of GM brinjal and GM mustard. The feedback was suitably considered by the GEAC, which has advised additional studies to be conducted for assessment of impact on environment and health.

Details of year-wise area under cotton, Bt. cotton, production and yield of cotton during 200203 to 2019-20 is as under:

| Years      |   Area under cotton* (in lakh hectare) |   Area under Bt. cotton** (in lakh hectare) |   Production (in lakh bales) |   Yield ( kg per hectare) |
|------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 2002-03    |                                  86.24 |                                        0.29 |                        86.21 |                       191 |
| 2003-04    |                                  75.98 |                                        0.92 |                       137.28 |                       307 |
| 2004-05    |                                  87.87 |                                        4.85 |                       164.29 |                       318 |
| 2005-06    |                                  86.78 |                                       12.34 |                       184.99 |                       362 |
| 2006-07    |                                  91.44 |                                       33.53 |                       226.32 |                       421 |
| 2007-08    |                                  94.14 |                                       54.72 |                       258.84 |                       467 |
| 2008-09    |                                  90.07 |                                       66.69 |                       222.76 |                       403 |
| 2009-10    |                                 101.32 |                                       85.52 |                       240.22 |                       403 |
| 2010-11    |                                 111.23 |                                       96.32 |                       330    |                       499 |
| 2011-12    |                                 121.78 |                                      107.58 |                       352    |                       491 |
| 2012-13    |                                 119.77 |                                      105.43 |                       342.2  |                       486 |
| 2013-14    |                                 119.6  |                                      110.35 |                       359.02 |                       510 |
| 2014-15    |                                 128.19 |                                      119.4  |                       348.05 |                       462 |
| 2015-16    |                                 122.92 |                                      106.83 |                       300.05 |                       415 |
| 2016-17    |                                 108.28 |                                       89.43 |                       325.77 |                       511 |
| 2017-18    |                                 124.29 |                                      110.76 |                       328.05 |                       477 |
| 2018-19    |                                 126.58 |                                      117.81 |                       287.08 |                       386 |
| 2019-20*** |                                 125.84 |                                      117.47 |                       322.67 |                       436 |

*Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics

**Source:  DAC&FW,  State  Govenments  and    Directorate  of  Cotton  Development, Nagpur

***First Advancement Estimate (Directorate of Economics and Statistics)

*******