The approval to the genetically-modified seed is shrouded in secrecy while ecological and societal risks are too high to ignore
GM Mustard may soon become India’s first genetically modified (GM) food crop. On May 11, 2017, the Environment Ministry's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) had recommended commercial use of GM Mustard seed, DMH 11, developed by Delhi University.
While GM crops are grown in a few countries, including US and Canada, many more have rejected or are undecided because of possible health and ecological risks linked to this technology. In India, the issue gains more complexity as agriculture here is known to involve millions of farmers with small but independent landholdings. Introduction of GM seeds, as was seen in the context of Bt Cotton, leads to monopolistic control of these farms by big corporates and monocropping.
Currently, Rapeseed-Mustard, also known colloquially as Rai, Sarson, Toria, Taramira etc., is grown on around 5.5 to 7 million hectares in India during the rabi (winter) season. Here are the key issues related to GM Mustard that the environmentalists and food policy experts have been flagging for quite long.
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Lack of transparency
The key accusation against developers and regulators is that they have kept the scientific data related to the trials secretive. This continues to be the case despite the directions of the Supreme Court and Central Information Commission to put out data for public scrutiny. “The people should know the procedural aspects of field trials and stages through which GM Mustard has come for approval,”says Abhishek Joshi, a policy analyst associated with anti-GM campaign, Sarson Satyagraha.
Activists also assert that yield of GM Mustard was compared with that of old low yielding varieties to make it look good. Developers claim around 25-30 percent higher yield with GM Mustard but there are already non-GM hybrid seeds in the market which give better yield.
The data about field trials and approval stages should be open to public scrutiny
Impact on Diversity
India has rich genetic heritage of mustard diversity and is also centre of origin for the crop. Several experts have voiced their concern that contamination from GM Mustard will destroy this heritage and introduce monocultures. This was one of the main reasons for government’s moratorium on Bt Brinjal, another GM food crop, in 2010 because India has vast genetic diversity of Brinjal as well. “Numerous independent studies, a Technical Expert Committee (TEC) of scientists, appointed by the Supreme Court and Standing Parliamentary Committee have expressly recommended against introduction of GM seeds specifically for those crops with centre of diversity and/or origin in India. Indian Mustard (from Rape Seed Mustard Family) has more than 65 different varieties and indeed has the centre of diversity and possibly centre of origin in India,” says Joshi.
Numerous independent studies have recommended against introduction of GM seeds specifically for those crops with centre of diversity and/or origin in India
The new GM seed is also herbicide-tolerant which means it can withstand the chemical used to kill weeds. Many farmers cultivate mustard with other crops. Use of herbicide would effectively lead to monocropping of GM Mustard as other crops won’t be able to withstand the chemical.
More yield is not equal to more income for farmers
The yield of rapeseed-mustard has been increasing all across India even though a drop in coverage area was seen between 2006-07 to 2012-13. The production in 2016-17 was estimated at 8 million tonnes. This year, the Union Cabinet approved the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 3,700, including Rs 350 per quintal bonus hike, but it did not reach the farmers as procurement agencies did not pick the crop, resulting in distress sale. There are total 293 markets in India where mustard is sold at below MSP which includes 93 markets in Rajasthan, 72 in Madhya Pradesh, 63 markets in Uttar Pradesh, 32 in Gujarat and 14 in Haryana.
So, even if GM Mustard increases the yield, the market will continue to cheat the farmers of a fair price.
This year, Mustard production was high but farmers didn't get a fair price and they had to go for distress sale
Import bill not due to poor production but lower duties
The plea that India needs to produce more mustard to reduce import bill on edible oils is also flawed. Food policy expert, Devinder Sharma says the import bill has risen to Rs 60,000 crore because India reduced import duties, allowing cheaper oils from other countries to flow in. “When Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister he launched a Technology Mission in Oilseeds in 1985. In less than ten years, we doubled the oilseeds production from 11 million tonnes in 1986-87, to 22 million tonnes in 1993-94. The imports reduced to only 3 per cent of the requirement, but a few years later, we began lowering the import duties. The more the edible oil imports, the more the domestic processing industry pulled down the shutters. So, if we increase the duties again, the import bill will reduce and our farmers will get a good price for their crop as well,” he adds.
Import bill for edible oils rose because we reduced import duties allowing cheaper oils from other countries to flow in
More GM food crops to follow
Since GM Mustard DMH 11 is developed by Delhi University, it is seen as more benign than seeds pushed by corporates. But with approval to GM Mustard, India will open the door for other GM food crops waiting in line. “There are more than 100 GM food crops waiting to enter India. According to guidelines of World Trade Organisation, you can’t have rules for private companies which are stricter than those for public institutions like Delhi University. This means several GM seeds of wheat, rice and other food crops will get approval, putting our health and environment at risk,” says Prof Rajinder Chaudhary, adviser to Kudrati Kheti Abhiyan, a campaign for organic farming in Haryana.
With such serious concerns over validity and need for GM Mustard, the approvals are unwarranted
Listen to Prof Rajinder Chaudhary of Sarson Satyagraha talking about GM Mustard (in Hindi)
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