Have strong bio-safety systems for GM crop: Swaminathan

NEW DELHI: Eminent Agriculture Scientist M S Swaminathan today urged the government to put in place a strong bio-safety system for genetically modified (GM) crops which is acceptable to the public.

He also expressed concern over malnutrition despite India achieving self-sufficiency in foodgrain following the success of the Green Revolution.

"There are concerns about safety aspects of GM crops. NGOs came and destroyed the crops of Golden rice. It is important to set up a proper bio-safety system for GM crops which is acceptable by public," Swaminathan said on the occasion of golden jubilee of the Green Revolution.

Swaminathan, known to as the Father of Green Revolution in India, emphasised that research in GM crops should be conducted keeping bio-safety concerns in mind.

The Centre has so far permitted commercial cultivation of Bt cotton but imposed moratorium on commercial release of Bt brinjal in February 2010 due to bio-safety concerns aired by green activists.

While recalling how India transformed from ship-to-mouth situation due to the Green Revolution, Swaminathan said despite achieving self-sufficiency in foodgrains production, hunger is still prevalent in the country.

The country is facing three kinds of problems -- calorie deficiency, protein deficiency and micro-nutrient deficiency, he said, and emphasised the need to take concrete steps to address these concerns.

Appreciating the right to food approach adopted under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Swaminathan said, "If the food security law is implemented properly, hunger can be addressed to a great extent in the country."

He thanked the farming community for converting a small agriculture programme launched in 1960s into a mass movement, bringing in the Green Revolution.