Lok Sabha Question No. 270 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: GM Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PARASURAMAN K.

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 270

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 01/12/2015

## GM CROPS

## 270. SHRI K. PARASURAMAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj d`'kd dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  emphasized  the importance of genetically engineered crops to bridge the gap between demand and supply for foodgrains in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  ICAR  in  its  vision  2015  has  identified  genetically  modified  organisms amongst the key areas that need to be harnessed to enhance nutrients and farmers' income and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether some groups which are opposing the cultivation of GM crops have urged the Government not to give the nod to GM Crop as many States have denied permission for GM field trials; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj d`'kd dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a) Yes, Madam.
- (b) National  Agricultural  Research  System  comprising  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Research  (ICAR),  Central  and  State  Agricultural  Universities (SAUs)  are  developing transgenic  rice,  sorghum,  watermelon,  tomato,  papaya,  sugarcane,  groundnut,  mustard, brinjal,  banana,  castor  and  potato  for  various  economically  important  traits  under  Network Project on Transgenics in Crops.

Employing marker assisted selection, bacterial leaf blight resistant rice varieties like Improved  Pusa  Basmati  I,  Improved  Samba  Mahsuri,  Improved  Lalat,  and  submergence tolerant Swarna Sub-1 and quality protein maize Vivek QPM 9 have been developed. Gene specific  molecular  markers  have  been  employed  to  develop  lipoxygenase-free  soybean genotypes NRC 109 and NRC 110.

……..2/-

(c) ICAR  in  its  Vision  2020,  Vision  2030  and  Vision  2050  documents  focusses  the integration  of  the  present  knowledge  of  plant  breeding,  genetics,  and  molecular  biology  to realize the full potential of agricultural biotechnology. Bt cotton is the only transgenic crop approved for commercialization in India since 2002 after extensive evaluation and regulatory process.  Yields  of  cotton  stagnating  at  about  300  kg/ha  from  1992-2002  rose  to  523  kg/ha during 2014.

(d) & (e): Some social groups are opposing the promotion of genetically modified crops in the  country.  Since,  agriculture  being  a  state  subject,  a  few  states  permit  field  trials  of  GM crops while most of them are not giving the permission for such trials. However, SAUs and various  ICAR  institutes  spread  almost  throughout  the  country  are  actively  involved  in biotechnological research including the development of GM crops. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee in its 111 th meeting decided that the applicants may be advised to obtain No Objection Certificate from the concerned State Government to carry out field trials of GM crops before granting approval for the same.

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