Model Answer

Despite their numerous benefits, such as being nutritionally rich and climate-resilient, millets have seen a decline in adoption by Indian farmers. Several factors contribute to this low uptake:

1. Low Demand and Consumption

Millets were once a staple in Indian diets but their consumption has sharply declined. The per capita consumption fell from 32.9 kg in 1962 to just 3.87 kg in 2022. Factors contributing to this include the longer cooking time required for millets compared to rice and wheat, a lack of value-added millet-based products, and diminishing traditional knowledge of millet-based recipes.

These factors have led to reduced consumer interest and demand for millet Productivity and Marginal Land Cultivation Millet productivity averages only 1 to 1.5 tonnes per hectare, which is significantly lower than that of rice and wheat. This low yield results in reduced profitability for farmers, forcing them to grow millets on marginal lands with even lower productivity potential. Consequently, farmers are often discouraged from choosing millets over more profitable crops .

2. Government Procurement

The government’s procurement of millets remains insufficient, which further exacerbates the issue. For example, the procurement rates for pearl millet, sorghum, and finger millet are extremely low, ranging from 1% to 15% of their total production. In contrast, procurement for staple crops like rice and wheat is much higher, ensuring better prices and stability for these crops .

3. Poor Seed Storage Issues

Farmers often face challenges with low-quality seeds, which are either contaminated with weeds or diseases, reducing the chances of a good yield. Additionally, millets have a shorter shelf life and are prone to pest infestation during storage, leading to higher wastage and decreased profitability .

Conclusion

To boost millet cultivation, India needs to focus on improving seed quality, enhancing government procurement, providing better storage solutions, and developing modern processing technologies. These efforts can drive both production and consumption, enabling millets to regain their role in India’s agricultural landscape.

Model Answer

Introduction

Genetically modified (GM) crops are plants that have been altered through modern biotechnology to include novel combinations of genes. In India, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is responsible for the approval and commercial release of GM crops. While GM crops are praised for their potential to enhance yields and resilience, concerns regarding their ecological impact and food safety remain significant.

Role of GM Crops in Enhancing Yields and Resilience

GM crops are designed to tackle several agricultural challenges, contributing to both improved crop productivity and resilience:

• Pest Resistance: GM crops, like Bt cotton, are engineered to be resistant to pests. Bt cotton contains a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which produces a protein toxic to specific pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and ensuring higher yields.
• Drought Tolerance: GM crops can be modified to withstand water stress, which is especially beneficial in areas prone to drought. For example, drought-resistant GM maize can thrive in water-scarce regions, ensuring stable yields even during dry spells.
• Nutritional Enhancement: GM crops like Golden rice have been engineered to combat micronutrient deficiencies. Golden rice, enriched with beta-carotene, helps address vitamin A deficiency, a major health issue in many developing countries.

Ecological and Food Safety Concerns

Despite the potential benefits, GM crops raise several environmental and food safety concerns:

• Biodiversity Loss: The use of herbicide-tolerant GM crops may lead to overuse of specific herbicides, causing the development of herbicide-resistant weeds. This disrupts local ecosystems and reduces plant biodiversity.
• Biosafety Risks: GM crops may unintentionally harm non-target species. For instance, insect-resistant plants could affect beneficial insects, leading to a loss of species diversity.
• Cross-Pollination and Gene Flow: GM crops such as canola can cross-pollinate with wild relatives, potentially spreading modified genes to non-GM populations. This gene flow can affect natural plant varieties and disrupt ecosystems.
• Unintended Ecological Consequences: The introduction of GM crops with resistance to pests may inadvertently harm other organisms, leading to imbalances in the ecosystem. For example, pests may develop resistance to the modified genes, causing a cycle of escalating pesticide use.

Food Safety Concerns

• Allergenicity: There is concern that GM crops could introduce new allergens. The transfer of allergenic genes into GM crops might pose risks to sensitive individuals, raising safety concerns.
• Health Impacts: GM crops often have altered nutritional profiles. While they are engineered for improved traits, the long-term health effects of consuming GM foods remain uncertain, and more studies are needed.
• Resistance Development: Over-reliance on specific GM traits (such as pest resistance) can lead to the evolution of resistant pests or diseases. This would require increased pesticide use, which could harm both the environment and human health.

Way Forward

To address the challenges surrounding GM crops, several measures can be taken:

• Evidence-Based Decisions: Governments should base decisions regarding GM technology on robust scientific research, ensuring that all benefits and risks are carefully evaluated.
• Openness and Transparency: A transparent approach to GM crop regulation can help build public trust. Clear communication about scientific findings and safety protocols is crucial to mitigate concerns.
• Stakeholder Involvement: It is important to involve all relevant parties, including scientists, farmers, consumers, and environmentalists, in decision-making processes. A participatory approach ensures that diverse perspectives are considered.
• Precautionary Principle: Due to the uncertainty surrounding GM technology, adopting a precautionary principle is advisable. This means waiting for broader scientific consensus before rolling out GM crops on a large scale.
• Improved Policy Frameworks: Policymakers should focus on creating frameworks that address pricing, input costs, and equitable benefits for all stakeholders involved in GM cultivation.
• Strong Liability Laws: Enforcing strict liability laws will hold companies accountable for any environmental or unforeseen harm caused by GM technology. This encourages responsible practices and environmental stewardship.