GM Mustard is a major step forward link
GM mustard is expected to increase mustard yields, which will increase oilseeds availability, improve self-sufficiency in edible oils and increase farmers' incomes!! After many years of waiting, GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, apex regulator) has finally allowed the commercial release of GM mustard (complete with the DMH-11 gene)!! Commercial seeds of GM mustard will take around 2 years to come to the market.
Transgenic mustard DMH-11
Dhara Mustard Hybrid 11 (or, DMH-11) was indigenously developed by Indian scientists and researchers, and headed by Deepak Pental (former VC of Delhi University). DMH-11 is very significant for large number of crops — as explained in my note, from a few years ago:
"Two foreign genes, Barnase & Barstar within DMH-11 are said to reduce the time and cost of developing new hybrids ¶. Developers are hoping to establish the safety of these genes, by using DMH-11 as a test case. If found acceptable, it opens the door for 13 - 35 most pest-blighted crops to receive a GM makeover."
¶ Yield accretion had stagnated. Mustard is self-pollinating, which means that it invariably pollinates with its own female and male parts and this prevents hybridisation with other parental lines. Pental & co created the technology to make the male part sterile so better hybrids could be created. link
Government go-ahead
There are reasons to believe that Ministry of Environment under Centre will allow this innovation to pass.
➖ 1) GEAC employs a "rigorous regulatory system" that takes account of years of objective research and scientific data.➖ 2) Environmental safety tests, undertaken for GEAC approval, should dispel the false propaganda that there is an "adverse impact of GM mustard on the environment".➖ 3) Domestic scientific research gets a major impetus in the emerging biotechology sector. BT cotton was approved in India and was a huge success. GM technology is already used in imported foods and in foreign corn, which has seen a big uplift in yields (ie.10 t/ha in US vs 3 t/ha in India).➖ 4) It probably has tacit Govt approval — eg. it enhances National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) Scheme to realise self-sufficiency in edible oils (see chapter 8; pages 68-75). It also works towards doubling farmers' incomes and reducing import bill of Rs 81,682 (for 13.45mt edible oil import) in 2020-21.
National Mission on Oilseeds & Oil Palm link
Per capita consumption of edible oils increased from 15.8 to 19.7 kg/yr per person, from 2012/13 to 2020/21. This created an acute dependency on imports—for palm oil, soya oil and sunflower oil.
Recently (see insert), domestic EO demand has plateaued & domestic EO supply (from all sources) has increased rapidly @5.3% pa — so much so, that imports are on a downward trend.
NMOOP along with GM mustard (above) is expected to double the area under Mustard [in rice fallows], hike Mustard yields to top global standards [by 30-50%, from 1.51 t/ha to 2-2.3 t/ha] and provide additional 2.5 to 5.2mt of CPO.
Recently (see insert), domestic EO demand has plateaued & domestic EO supply (from all sources) has increased rapidly @5.3% pa — so much so, that imports are on a downward trend.
NMOOP along with GM mustard (above) is expected to double the area under Mustard [in rice fallows], hike Mustard yields to top global standards [by 30-50%, from 1.51 t/ha to 2-2.3 t/ha] and provide additional 2.5 to 5.2mt of CPO.
