Genetically modified seeds cannot be adopted under 'pressure': Tariq Anwar

PATNA: With concerns raised over lifting moratorium on Genetically Modified (GM) seed, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Tariq Anwar today said decision on GM seeds would not be taken "under pressure" from abroad.

"Decision on GM seeds cannot be taken under pressure from abroad. It would be adopted after satisfactory results of scientific tests at various level," Anwar told reporters after inaugurating Third National Crop Convention, 2013 here.

He said the Supreme Court had constituted a committee to look into the issues related to adoption of GM seeds.

"The committee's report has come and future decision will be taken on the basis of it," he said.

A 10-year moratorium on all field trials of GM crops in India was imposed in October 2012 on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Technical Expert Committee (TEC).

"It is said that we'll exceed China in population by 2030. In such scenario we need to increase our food productivity," Anwar said.

"We need to ponder as how China which has almost same amount of land as we have produces double the amount of crops than us," he said.

The two-day Crop convention organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce.