How India fits in the picture of GM Crops?
In India, experiments have been carried out and GM crops like the Golden Rice
(which is rich in proteins) have been used. Unfortunately, the GM business is
owned by top multinational companies and agribusiness is only for vested
interests. One of the prime fears related to biotechnology is that the GM crops
may lead to a monoculture and devastate the biodiversity that maybe like a self
serving bio weapon on a target nation. This decade is crucial for India in which it
will have to take decisions on the prospect of GM crops. While experimentation is
going on in India, we need to retain our traditional knowledge and practices. The
socalled coarse grains like bajra and millets may be more nutritious for the
farmers (or even the affluent) than rice and wheat. For better nutritional security, we may need traditional food habits and food grains, cereals and milk suited to
our agricultural zones.