Government allows cultivation of genetically modified crops after full scientific evaluation: Sanjeev Kumar Balyan

NEW DELHI: The government allows cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops after full scientific evaluation of biosafety and impact on environment as well as on consumers, Parliament was informed today.

In India, cotton is the only GM crop (Bt cotton) approved for commercial cultivation.

"The government policy is to allow GM crops after full scientific evaluation of its biosafety and impact on the environment and on the consumers," Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Kumar Balyan said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

"The government follows the policy of 'case to case basis' for approval of GM crops," he added.

Replying to a separate question, the minister said the area under Bt cotton has gone up significantly. Share of Bt cotton in the total cotton area has increased from 91.47 per cent in 2011-12 to 93.99 per cent in 2013-14.

"Total production of cotton has also increased from 35.2 million bales (of 170 kg each) in 2011-12 to 36.5 million bales in 2013-14," Balyan said.