This refers to Surinder Sud's column "Why GM crops make the cut" (Farm View, February 25). The paradox of India's agricultural policies is that it is unable to care for its current food grain output. If one were to go by media reports, thousands of tonnes of rotten food grain have been burnt in Punjab because of poor storage. The loss on storage and transportation of food grain is over Rs 60,00,000 crore. This is food that is denied to the millions of poor. Food shortages and nutritional security will not improve with the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops when we are unable to save even traditionally produced food grain. For years, the industry has been promising that GM crops will reduce the use of pesticide, increase yields, reduce water consumption and offer food that is more tasty and nutritious. India needs to establish policies and infrastructure to assure fair prices to reduce wastage of food grain, fruit, vegetables and other commodities during their transportation and storage. If this proposal is implemented India could become a food-surplus nation.
H N Ramakrishna Bangalore
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