Dream of a developed India, but why the hesitation about GM technology in agriculture?

The dream of making India a developed nation by 2047 is in the heart of every Indian. To achieve this goal, reforms in the agricultural sector are extremely important, as it is not only the backbone of the Indian economy, but it is also an important part of the country’s huge workforce. Even today, about 45.8 percent of the Indian workforce is associated with agriculture. Agriculture is not only a source of employment for Indian society, but it is also an important part of the rural economy and cultural heritage. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve the overall development of India without reforms in agriculture. Reforms in the field of agriculture can empower the rural population, which will also contribute significantly to overall economic development. Agriculture currently contributes about 18 percent to GDP, which is gradually decreasing, while there has been no significant reduction in the number of people employed in agriculture. If we make technological improvements in the agricultural sector, not only will production increase, but farmers’ income will also increase and overall economic growth will accelerate.
New technologies are needed for agricultural reform
To improve the agriculture sector, it is necessary to first adopt new and effective technologies. We can increase productivity by using smart equipment, data-based farming and climate-friendly agricultural methods. New technologies like GM (genetically modified) and genome editing can be incorporated to improve India’s agriculture sector. Professor KC Bansal, former director of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa, New Delhi and secretary of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, believes that it is difficult to imagine a developed India without incorporating new technologies in agriculture. He said, “On the one hand, we dream of a developed India, while on the other hand, there is hesitation about GM technology in agriculture.
How are GM and genome editing beneficial in agriculture?
According to Professor Bansal, GM and genome editing techniques in agriculture can lead to a huge increase in productivity. For example, after the introduction of BT cotton in 2002, farmers’ income increased and cotton production also increased significantly. While cotton production was 14 million bales in the year 2001-02, it reached 39 million bales in 2014-15. Along with this, the yield of BT cotton increased by 24 percent from traditional cotton and the profit of farmers also increased by 50 percent.
GM technology should be used in other crops
Professor Bansal said that if GM technology is expanded to other crops, such as mustard, pulses, maize and other food crops, then production can increase significantly. For example, GM trials of mustard were approved in 2022. If GM mustard cultivation is approved, mustard production can increase by 20-25 percent, allowing India to reduce its dependence on imports for edible oils. Similarly, starch production can be increased using GM techniques in maize crop, which will be helpful in ethanol production. This will be beneficial for farmers and will also meet the energy needs of the country.
There is a need to break the hesitation and deadlock
Professor KC Bansal said that India needs to break the hesitation and deadlock in the case of GM crops. This cannot continue for a long period. GM technology has made great progress in the pharma industry, where it is being used for medicines and vaccination. With the help of genome editing and GM technology, not only has the production of medicines become easier, but it has also reduced the cost. However, there is hesitation and reluctance in adopting this technology in the agricultural sector because this technology is very important to face the challenges in the agricultural sector.
The success of BT cotton has proved that GM crops can not only increase production but also improve the income of farmers. There are many possibilities in the development of GM and GM editing crops. With these techniques, we can develop crops that require less water and less fertilizer. Also, which can avoid pests and diseases. Through this, farming can be made more stable, environmentally friendly and economically profitable.
How will the dream of a developed nation be fulfilled
Professor KC Bansal said that the dream of making India a developed nation by 2047 can be fulfilled only when we incorporate modern technologies to bring about change in the agriculture sector. The expansion of technologies like GM and genome editing will not only boost crop production but will also increase the income of farmers. By making agriculture an important pillar in mainstream development, we can make India a prosperous and self-reliant nation. The government will have to remove the obstacles in adopting new technologies in agriculture, so that Indian agriculture can be made world-class and the country’s economy can get a boost.
Source: Kisantak