India was not against genetically modified (GM) crops and will permit growing of such crops once safety parameters were in place.
The government will also link up 2000 Agriculture Produce Market Commission (APMC) markets in the next 2-3 years.
Today, only 730 such markets were connected, R.C.A. Jain, secretary of the central ministry of agriculture said at the inaugural function of 'Globoil India-2003'.
"India has already allowed GM technology in cotton. Trials are on in other crops and if trials are successful for two consecutive years, GM technology will be permitted in that crop too," he told Business Standard on the sidelines of the conference.
"The trials in rapeseed and mustard seeds were not successful - otherwise they would have been permitted. Last year the rains were not good and so these crops will have to undergo trials again before getting permission," he added.
Speaking at the function, Adi Godrej, chairman of the Godrej group, said the government tinkered far too often with import norms.
"The government should not be bothered with small issues such as beta carotene levels in the oil and should focus on larger issues such as increase in oilseed production," he said. Import duty on edible oils should not be lowered, he added.
Raghu Mody, chairman, Rasoi Group and former president of Assocham, called upon the government to set up an 'Oil Board' similar to tea and rubber boards.
"The government should classify palm cultivation as plantation crop and should transfer land holdings to state governments which could form joint ventures with industrialists interested in plantation and thus increase the oil availability in the country," he added.
Bipin Patel, outgoing president, The Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), said as India was dependent on imported edible oil to the extent of 45 per cent of its requirement, the country was expected to import about 5 million tones of edible oil and about 300,000 tonnes of non edible vegetable oils this year. Imports would cost the exchequer over Rs 10,000 crore in the current year.
