Lok Sabha Question No. 266 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: HTBt. Seeds
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias Pavan Rajenimbalkar, Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Shri Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh, Shri Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 266

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## HTBT. SEEDS

266.   SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR: SHRI SANJAY UTTAMRAO DESHMUKH: SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of insect-resistant seeds of Herbicide Tolerant Bt. (HTBt.) cotton, maize and soyabean;
- (b) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the huge losses being suffered by farmers due to non-approval of HTBt. cotton, maize and soyabean and if so, the reasons for delay in approval of HTBt. seeds;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard and the time by which the approval to HTBt. seeds is likely to be given;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to prevent the extreme step like suicide by farmers due to losses;
- (e) the details of suicides committed by farmers in districts of Maharashtra including in Yavatmal district from 2001 till date due to crop failure and herbicide management;
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to resolve these problems and prevent farmers' suicides;
- (g) whether the Government has any alternative policy or programme for this problem and to ensure  availability  of  new  technologies  and  resources  for  herbicide  management  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (h) the  immediate  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  the  production  of cotton, maize and soyabean to protect them from insects?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a) to (c): The environmental release of GM crops is under adjudication in the Writ Petition (Civil) 115/2004 titled as Gene Campaign Vs. Union of India & Ors. and Writ Petition (Civil) 260 of 2005 titled as Aruna Rodrigues Vs. Union of India & Ors., respectively before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, which covers the various aspects of GM crops.

(d) to (f):   Government of India supports the efforts of States through appropriate policy measures, budgetary allocation and various schemes/ programmes like awareness campaign at village level through crop demonstration and training programmes. The various schemes/ programmes of the Government of India like PM Fasal Bima Yojana, NAMO Kisan Yojana & adoption of integrated crop management practices are meant for the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers. The Government of India has substantially enhanced the budget allocation of Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare from Rs. 21933.50 crore BE during 2013-14 to Rs. 1,22,528.77 crore BE during 2024-25.

The data/details related to suicides Committee by farmers is maintained by respective State Government.

(g) & (h): National  Agricultural  Research  System  under  aegis  of  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Research  (ICAR)  through  its  institutes  and  State  Agriculture  Universities  have  developed  new varieties/hybrids tolerant to various biotic and abiotic stresses with enhanced quality. During the last ten years (2014 - 2024), 92 varieties of Soybean, 239 of Maize and 331 of Cotton/Bt Cotton have been  released  and  recommended  for  commercial  cultivation.  The  location-specific  high  yielding varieties and their management technologies and practices of these varieties are recommended for farmers of the country, regularly. Different weed management technologies along with the existing mechanical  and  chemical  weed  control  strategies  in  cotton,  maize  and  soybean  have  been developed  and  disseminated  among  farmers  for  large  scale  adoption  though  KVKs,  State Department of Agriculture, Doordarshan, ICT tools like mobile apps, etc.

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