Surprised by the support of Niti Aayog Ramesh Chand to modified genetic crops (GM), Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), a RSS affiliate, has asked for a permanent stop at any promotion of transgenic crops.
BKS’s position against transgenic crops has been consistent and becomes critical in the context of the United States government, currently, leaving India to import its soy and corn.
“Why should we opt for all these transgenic crops? We do not need all these crops. Leave us once and for all these discussions and experiments on transgenic crops in our country,” said BKS Secretary General Mohan Mohan Mishra Mishra Business line.
Duplication of the output
Chand recently told the media about the need to allow GM culture in India, particularly referring to the dependence on the importation of edible oil. He said that allowing GM Soyabean production could double in the country. India had reaped 15.13 million tons of soybeans, a Kharif harvest, of 12.94 million hectares with an average yield of 1.17 tons/ha in 2024-25.
When qualifying “amazing” Chand comments, Mishra said that the Minister of Agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has declared that GM has many unresolved questions about issues raised by farmers, scientists and consumers. “Unless these problems are solved, the government will not allow transgenic crops,” he said.
Demanding that Chand correct his statement, BKS general said that it is very confusing since he is in varied with the position of the Ministry of Agriculture and FSSAI. “If such a statement has been given, you should know all these things. So, if there is no coordination within the government, that is a great question,” Mishra said.
He also said that GM technology is highly unsustainable and cited the case of BT Cotton saying that it was sustained only for 2-3 initial years, all diversity has been closed. There is no biodiversity in cotton and production has also been reduced.
When asked why BKS opposes the BG-III technology in India, he said: “It’s a trick. What do you mean with BG III, it is tolerant of herbicide, where we have to use glyhosato? And glyphosate gives the free body.
Edible oil imports
Experts in the edible oil industry said soy oil is imported because the GM content is not present in oil, and is present only in soybeans. FSSAI in 2020 published guidelines on the importation of food products that have origin in transgenic crops, under which importers must have a certificate of origin that is not GM.
BKS leader also said that 80 percent of GM corn and GM soybeans in the United States are used as animal food and 20 percent soaking for ethanol program. “We have a great question. If they are using it as animal food, are we animals in India, are we not human?” Hello questioned.
Regarding allowing the importation of the use of transgenic corn for ethanol purposes, he questioned: “Why should we import? Those people argue that we can import that we import? Are we producing less amount in our country?”
It was suggested that once the farmers pay a better price and the acquisition is assured, they will produce as much as the country and there is no need to import. “Our farmers are ready to produce everything you want without transgenic crops. In rice, wheat, vegetables, fruits, fish, milk, we are more than enough in production without GM,” he emphasized.
The BKS leader alleged that standing interests have maintained edible pulses and oils in a weak position as a result, or that there is a gap in production and demand. The aforementioned
“Why has FSSSAI allow the sales of admired edible oils on behalf of the mixture? It stops these things. Our country will be self -sufficient in crops, pulses and edible oils. Seeds and pulses.
Posted on April 23, 2025