The Central government has been urged to issue a permit for the import of genetically modified (GM) soy seeds by the Indian poultry industry. This is due to the farmers’ captive consumption needs. Additional to this, non-fiscal and fiscal relief measures, including restructuring of term loans and extra working capital, are sought from both the Central and State governments.
Understanding GM Crops
A GM or transgenic crop refers to a plant that possesses a unique combination of genetic material acquired through modern biotechnology’s application. An example of such crops includes those containing artificially inserted genes rather than those acquired through pollination. Traditional plant breeding involves the crossing of species of the same genus to provide the offspring with both parents’ desired traits. However, cross-breeding often requires a significant period to achieve the desired results. Furthermore, often, the traits of interest might not exist in any related species.
Bt Cotton: The Only GM Crop in India
Bt cotton remains the only GM crop approved in India. Bt cotton is genetically modified to contain genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) soil bacterium. This modification enables the crop to generate a protein that is toxic to the common pest, pink bollworm. Herbicide Tolerant Bt (Ht Bt) cotton and Bt brinjal are other examples of GM crops developed with additional genes to enhance resistance against common herbicides or pests.
Status of GM Soyseeds in India
While the import of GM soybean and canola oil is permitted in India, the GM soybean seeds importation has not been approved. The key concern revolves around the potential impact on the Indian soybean industry through contamination of non-GM varieties should GM soybean importation be approved.
Reasons behind the Import Demand
The onset of Covid-19 triggered a massive crisis leading to a sudden drop in demand for chicken products due to the spread of misinformation linking the virus and poultry products. This led to a financial crisis in the sector as it eroded working capital. In recent times, the high speculation activities in soya contracts on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) have further impacted the sector.
The Approval Process for GM Crops in India
In India, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) serves as the principal body that permits the commercial release of GM crops. Violating this can result in severe penalties including a 5-year prison term and a Rs. 1 lakh fine as per the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Imported crops are regulated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Related Initiatives
Several initiatives are underway in the poultry sector, such as the Poultry Venture Capital Fund (PVCF) and the National Livestock Mission, which provides financial aid to States/Union Territories for implementation of Rural Backyard Poultry Development (RBPD) and Innovative Poultry Productivity Project (IPPP). The Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) Scheme implemented under the “Livestock Health and Disease Control” (LH&DC) covers the vaccination of economically significant poultry diseases.
