Indian Agriculture & Genetic Innovation

July 9, 2025

General Studies Paper-3

Context

As the trade deadline approaches, the USA is ramping up pressure on India to open its agriculture market to genetically modified (GM) crops.
However, India has drawn firm red lines, citing farmers’ livelihoods and food safety as non-negotiable.

India’s Agriculture & Genetic Innovation

Genetic innovation in agriculture refers to the use of tools like CRISPR gene editing, genomic selection, and transgenic technologies to improve crop traits. These include:
Enhancing crop yields and nutritional content;
Increasing resistance to pests, diseases, drought and heat;
Reducing dependency on chemical pesticides and fertilizers;
Shortening crop cycles and making agriculture more climate-resilient;

Global Expansion of GM Crops

GM crops have seen massive adoption, since their global debut in 1996.
By 2023, over 200 million hectares of GM soy, maize, canola, and others were cultivated across 76 countries.
Many of India’s trading partners — including the US, Brazil, and China — have fully embraced GM agriculture.

Bt Cotton: India’s Only GM Crop

Bt cotton was approved in 2002 by India.
Its production had grown by 193%, and productivity rose by 87%, by 2013–14.
India became the second-largest producer and exporter of cotton globally, with net exports touching $4.1 billion in 2011–12.
Bt cotton seeds are now used across 90%+ of India’s cotton area.
Cottonseed oil, a by-product, enters the human food chain, while the cotton cake feeds cattle.

Related Efforts Made By India

From the Lab to the Field: CRISPR-edited rice lines with improved nitrogen use efficiency and yield, developed by ICAR scientists in Delhi.
Genome-edited chickpea variety ‘Saatvik (NC9)’, which performs better under drought stress.
RNA-based antivirals to protect crops like banana and cucumber from devastating viruses, offering a pesticide-free solution.
Miniature genome editors like TnpB, developed by ICAR, are small enough to work efficiently in plant cells—especially useful for crops like rice.
From Gene Banks to Global Partnerships: India’s first National Gene Bank, established by ICAR-NBPGR, safeguards genetic diversity for future breeding.
A regional center of the International Potato Center (CIP) is being set up in Agra to develop climate-resilient, high-yield potato varieties.
The Amaranth Genomic Resource Database helps identify varieties that combat obesity and malnutrition.

Concerns & Challenges

Stagnation and Policy Failure: India’s cotton yields fell from 566 kg/ha in 2013–14 to 436 kg/ha in 2023–24—far below the global average (770 kg/ha) and significantly lower than China (1,945 kg/ha) and Brazil (1,839 kg/ha).
Annual cotton production has declined by about 2%, driven by pest outbreaks and policy barriers.
Illegal HT-Bt Cotton: Herbicide-Tolerant (HT) Bt cotton, which allows glyphosate spraying, has not been cleared for official use.
However, these seeds have illegally spread across states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana.
Estimates suggest 15–25% of cotton acreage now uses unauthorised HT-Bt seeds.
Regulatory Bottlenecks: Government interventions since 2015 have disincentivized R&D:
The Seed Price Control Order (SPCO) capped royalties and trait fees, reducing them to Rs 39 per seed packet by 2018.
- By 2020, stricter caps and forced technology transfers drove away global biotech investors.
- It turns India into a net cotton importer worth $0.4 billion in 2024–25.
India’s regulatory paralysis also affects other GM innovations:
- Bt Brinjal, cleared by the GEAC, has faced a moratorium since 2009.
- GM Mustard (DMH-11) received environmental clearance in 2022, but commercialization is stalled pending more studies and possible court rulings.
- GM soy and corn, widely used elsewhere, remain off the table despite earlier imports for poultry feed
Policy Paralysis: India’s regulatory framework has discouraged biotech innovation:
Seed Price Control Order (2015) drastically cut royalties on GM traits;
2016 regulations mandated forced technology transfers and royalty caps;
By 2020, even tighter restrictions were imposed.

Other Concerns

Loss of Crop Diversity: As farmers adopt high-performing genetically modified (GM) varieties, traditional and locally adapted crops may be abandoned, reducing biodiversity.
Seed Dependency: Some GM seeds are patented, meaning farmers may need to purchase new seeds each season, increasing reliance on biotech companies.
Access Inequality: Smallholder and marginal farmers may face barriers to accessing advanced genetic technologies due to cost, awareness, or infrastructure gaps.
Regulatory and Ethical Issues: Concerns around biosafety, labeling, and long-term ecological effects can create uncertainty and resistance among farming communities.

India’s Balancing Act

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) plays a pivotal role in approving and regulating genetically engineered organisms.
It has cleared some crops for field trials — like GM mustard — however, wider commercial adoption remains sluggish.
The government’s regulatory framework, including the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), plays a key role in ensuring biosafety and ethical deployment.
Public and Private Collaboration: Public sector research institutions like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR);
Private sector biotech firms bringing in cutting-edge tech;
Farmers, who must be educated and empowered to adopt new practices;

Way Forward: Need for Science-Led Agricultural Reform

India’s Prime Minister’s ‘Jai Anusandhan’ (Hail Innovation) and a Rs 1 lakh crore RDI fund are welcome steps — but innovation must move from lab to land.
As Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee envisioned, ‘What IT is for India, BT can be for Bharat’. The potential for biotechnology to transform rural prosperity is immense.
Key steps include:
- Approval and regulation of HT-Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, and GM mustard;
- Reform of seed pricing and licensing policies to incentivise innovation;
- Public engagement to build trust in GM safety and benefits.