"I am not a scientist. But as a farmer, I would like my friends opposing the GM technology to answer some of my queries. For instance, is it not a fact that GM technology substantially curtails the requirement of fertilisers and pesticides? This helps farmers maintain the soil quality and also save money," Pawar said.
"Second, is it not a fact that we might be consuming oil made out of GM soya produced in the US? But, we aren't willing to benefit from the same technology on our own soil. Why?" Pawar said.
"Is it not a fact that GM technology has increased the food production four-fold, reducing the need of additional land, thereby protecting the green cover," he said.
"My only contention is that let us not kill this promising science by placing arbitrary bans on its trials. Let the scientific community get the freedom to conduct its experiments on this technology with the strictest possible regulatory framework in place. Is this asking for too much?" he said.
More From This Section
Stating that "GM technology is now a reality," Pawar said, "From mere 1.7 million hectares in 1996, the world-over area under GM crop has seen an unprecedented 100-fold increase to 170 million hectares by 2012, spread across 28 countries and touching the lives of 17 million farmers."
"Today, we produce 35 million bales as against the demand of 27 million bales. Thus, we have emerged as a major exporter in the international market," the minister said.
"I believe that a farmer is the best judge to decide on the adoption of a new concept or ideology. Let me tell you that 90 per cent of the India's cotton farmers have already adopted the GM technology," he said.