Chidambaram said that although country have attained self-sufficiency in cereals, the pulses and edible oil production remain insufficient leading to large imports.
He was speaking at the 57th convocation programme of Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI).
"And we must develop and use GM Crops to meet all these and other challenges, wherever appropriate, after ensuring safety and not be swayed by irrational fears," he said.
Appreciating the IARI's research works, the top scientists said recently released wheat varieties HD 2967 and HD 3086, could boost wheat production in the country by 3 million tonnes during the previous year.
The contribution of Pusa varieties to the productivity increase in the other field and horticultural crops is also laudable, he added.
Addressing the students, Chidambaram said, "Remember that India's development depends significantly upon the development of agriculture, which in turn is a powerful sector for uplifting rural India.