The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture aims at sustainable development of agriculture with a view to address risks associated with climate change, while ensuring food security, enhancing livelihood opportunities and contributing to economical stability. The Mission includes a Programme of Action for mainstreaming adaptation and mitigation strategies in ongoing research and development programmes including, inter-alia, the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, the National Horticulture Mission, and the National Food Security Mission.
The Government organized several consultations with state governments, non governmental organizations and scientific and farming communities on the issue of genetically modified (GM) crops/fields in the country. In course of the consultations, a cross-section of views have been expressed by the stakeholders on issues inter-alia, including health, loss of biodiversity, dependence on multi national companies for seeds, loss of indigenous varieties through contamination of gene pool, sustainability of technology, consumer choice and labeling and adequacy of regulatory process in relation to GM Crops.
The Government assesses on a case by case basis the merits and demerits of each genetically modified (GM) crop. A moratorium on commercialization of Bacillus thuringiensis Bt. Brinjal is currently in force. However, commercial cultivation of Bt. Cotton has been approved by the Government.
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