The US has justified this move as ‘competitive’ because the Modi government has refused to open its markets to American genetically modified (GM) crops like maize and soybeans. In fact, this is the same old game that rich countries have always played: to protect their farmers by giving them heavy subsidies and to create new markets for highly productive GM crops and to punish those who oppose it in the form of tariffs. As a result, small and marginal farmers in developing countries like India remain trapped in the cycle of low yields, debt and poverty in the global agricultural system.
Although India’s decision not to open its market to American crops is an important and commendable step, because our farmers cannot compete with American farmers. This is an immediate relief for our farmers, but in the long run the real welfare of Indian farmers will not come from protecting them from farmers in developed countries like America, but from preparing them to compete with American farmers. Therefore, it is essential that farmers are provided with alternatives to GM crops such as high-yielding seed varieties, modern irrigation systems, storage, early planting, etc., which will increase their production and reduce their costs, as well as give them access to the international market. Post-harvest losses of crops should be reduced from 15-20 percent to 5 percent as per global standards.
The US spends more than $48 billion (about Rs. 4,22,400 crore) on farmer subsidies every year, due to which its farmers can sell wheat, corn and dairy products abroad at a price equal to or even less than their actual cost, but still they do not suffer any loss. Whereas India spends $16.5 billion (about Rs. 1,35,200 crore) on farmer subsidies. This is not a competition but a structural disparity between the two countries, which distances Indian farmers from the world market. India’s attitude is completely different from those countries that have made GM crops a part of their agricultural production system. GM soybeans, corn, canola and other crops are being sown on more than 200 million hectares of land in 75 countries of the world. The US sows GM corn and soybeans in more than 95 percent of the area and its share in the world market is more than 40 percent. The US’s GM corn production is 11 tons and soybeans 3.7 tons per hectare, while India’s corn production is 3.5 tons and soybeans 1.2 tons per hectare. It is worth noting that GM crops increase production, reduce costs, increase farmers’ income and reduce environmental pressure, as they consume 40 percent less pesticides.
Brazil and Argentina have become the world’s largest exporters by fully adopting GM soybean and corn. China has also approved GM corn and soybean to reduce dependence on imports. In contrast, India adopted only Bt cotton as a GM crop in 2002. This first commercial crop started a silent revolution in Indian agriculture. Today, more than 96 percent of India’s cotton production is from Bt varieties. Cotton yield has increased from 278 kg per hectare in 2000-01 to 447 kg in 2023-24, i.e. more than 60 percent increase in production and almost 40 percent reduction in pesticide use. India is the world’s second largest cotton producer with 24 percent of the world’s cotton production, India exported cotton worth Rs 73,233 crore during the financial year 2024-25.
Increasing GM crops: Limiting GM technology to cotton only makes Indian farmers lag behind in the world, while farmers in developed countries are earning huge profits by producing with modern tools. GM technology can bring revolutionary changes in many crops, such as pest-resistant and drought-tolerant maize can reduce farmers’ losses. Bt brinjal farming will greatly reduce the use of pesticides, which will improve the health and safety of farmers and consumers. GM mustard will increase production, improve the quality of oil and reduce dependence on edible oil imports. This will reduce India’s annual edible oil import bill of Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
Policy on GM crops: There is a hesitation at the policy level. The Supreme Court had directed the central government in July 2024 to formulate a national policy on GM crops to bring clarity on strict regulatory rules and innovation. The debate on progress in this direction is stuck between scientific recommendations, illusions and assumptions. Environmental and consumer organizations often express concerns about possible harmful effects on health – allergies, antibiotic resistance, toxicity, reduced immunity, DNA. Changes, gene mutations and diseases such as cancer, and loss of biodiversity. However, these concerns are often at odds with scientific findings, as scientists believe that approved GM crops are safe to eat. Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the US National Academy of Sciences have conducted several studies and found that current GM crops are as safe as conventional varieties. But misunderstandings have kept India’s GM crop policy in limbo.
The way forward: Trump’s tariff is not just a trade issue, it is a warning and an opportunity for India’s agriculture sector and India can no longer afford to take half-hearted steps in agricultural reforms. Just as Punjab led the Green Revolution of the 1960s,In the 21st century, food security was given a new shape, today biotechnology has brought the same opportunity. The central government’s Rs 1 lakh crore fund for ‘Jai Anusandhan’ is welcome, but it is necessary to take innovation from the laboratory to the field. For which two steps need to be taken immediately – first, to avoid dependence on US-patented GM seeds, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the National Gene Bank can jointly develop indigenous genetically modified crops. But this regulatory process should be transparent, time-bound and based on science. Second, depriving farmers of cheap indigenous GM seeds is in a way keeping them behind in competition with farmers in developed countries. Farmer empowerment at the grassroots level is about equipping farmers with modern science and innovation to enable them to compete fairly in the global market.
