The use of biotechnology brought a green revolution in India. Keeping the statement in mind, analyze the case of Genetically Modified (GM) crops. Why India is still infested with low productivity.
sunil tiwary Staff asked 1 year ago
The use of biotechnology brought a green revolution in India. Keeping the statement in mind, analyze the case of Genetically Modified (GM) crops. Why India is still infested with low productivity.
Viewpoints:
Briefly talk about Genetically Modified crops.
Delineate about various varieties of GM Crops.
Debate initiative of the Indian government in the field of AI.
Debate on the issue of AI and threat to Humanity from both sides.
Conclude with a balance of both threat and opportunity.
sunil tiwary Staff answered 1 year ago
Genetically Modified or transgenic crops are the plant having a combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology. For example, artificial insertion of some genes instead of, the plant acquiring it through pollination. The use of HYV (high yield variety) seeds empowered the green revolution in India.
Varieties:
Bt = insect resistant using a toxin from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis
Ht = tolerant to at least one of the following herbicides. Glyphosate (Roundup) or Glufosinate ammonium (Liberty).
Ht-Bt = crops with stacked traits of both Bt insect resistance and herbicide tolerance.
VR = virus resistant.
Potential benefits of GM plants:
Higher crop yields as they are more tolerant to environmental stresses.
Reduced farm costs due to less wastage and efficient availability of agricultural inputs.
Increased farm profit due to more resistance to diseases and high shelf life etc.
Improvement in health and the environment.
Potential risks:
The danger of introducing allergens and anti-nutrition factors in foods.
Transgenes escaping from cultivated crops into wild relatives. Thus becoming invasive alien crop.
The potential for pests to evolve resistance to the toxins produced by GM crops.
The risk of these toxins affecting the non-targeted organisms.
Issue of low yield in India:
India is the only country that grows cotton as hybrids, while other countries grow them as “Verities”.
A key difference between hybrids and varieties is that varieties can be propagated over successive generations by just collecting seeds from one planting and using them for the next planting; while hybrid seeds have to be remade for each planting by crossing the parents.
Thus, they increase the cost of inputs, including fertilizer and water.
Also, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has approved environmental release of Bt cotton and confined field trials of several other GM crops for generation of biosafety data both from the private and public sector institutions.
Thus, India is the world’s 4th largest GM crop producer on the strength of Bt cotton. Although in reality all crops have been “genetically modified” from their original wild state by domestication, selection and controlled breeding over long periods of time. Keeping in mind that India is one of the mega biodiversity countries so a very precautionary approach has to be followed towards any open release of GMOs.