Genome processing clearly differs from genetically modified crops. It allows Scientists to make targeted adjustments to the own DNA of a plant without introducing foreign genes | Photocredit: Faruqui am
India has scripted a new chapter in agricultural innovation with the recent release of two genome-processed (ge) paddy varieties by the Minister of Agriculture of the Union during a meeting organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). This development coincides with India who wants to become the largest paddy producer in the world.
But do we need genome-edited paddy if we are already cultivating more padie than we need? Are you -washed safe? Will they benefit the average farmer, especially the marginal and small farmers who form the backbone of Indian agriculture?
Why choose Paddy?
Paddy is currently cultivated on more than 47 million hectares (MHA) in India, making it the largest food harvest in terms of area. Although production has steadily increased from 31 MT in 1965-66 to almost 150 m now, this growth has come with considerable environmental and economic costs. The average water requirement for Padie is 3,000-5,000 liters per kilogram of grain, which leads to non-durable groundwater extraction, especially in the northwestern states. In addition, methane emissions of flooded paddy fields contribute considerably to the emissions of the agricultural gas from agriculture in India.
The newly introduced genome-processed varieties are reportedly offering three important advantages: adult early (15-20 days earlier than their parent varieties), resulting in three savings rounds about irrigation, increases the yield by 15-20 percent and is more drought-tetolerant. Both properties are intended to reduce input costs, to enable more flexible gaincycli and to support sustainable crop intensification.
Genome processing clearly differs from genetically modified (GM) crops. With genome adaptation, scientists can apply targeted modifications to the own DNA of a plant without introducing foreign genes. GM organisms, on the other hand, include the introduction of genes of other species that can cause health problems. India ‘guidelines for the safety assessment of plants processed by genome’ recognize this crucial distinction and release certain genome-processed crops (which without transgens) free from the long GMO regulation process.
This is in line with global legal trends in countries such as the US, Japan and Australia. When developed under strict scientific protocols, genoma-processed crops have not shown any evidence that they are unsafe or toxic. In fact, they offer a faster, more accurate alternative to conventional breeding, with the potential to reduce the use of input, improve resilience and improve food production.
Could this increase income?
Will it benefit the farmers, is the question that must be answered? More than 86 percent of Indian farmers are marginal and small farmers, with land ownership under two hectares. For them, affordability, climate results and stable returns are much more important than scientific novelty.
If genoma-processed seeds are priced such as hybrids or GM crops, the adoption is marred. However, since the two types in question have been developed by the ICAR-Supported Institutions for Public Sector, there is a space for fair spread. Government programs such as the National Food Security Mission or PM-Kisan Seed Mini Kits can be used to distribute seeds through extension networks and cooperatives, so that small farmers do not lag behind.
Paddy cultivation in India is becoming increasingly uneconomical. Even with an MSP of £ 2,320 per quintal for 2024-25, farmers often struggle with increasing costs of fertilizer, diesel and labor. In addition, irregular weather patterns that are recently experienced have increased crop risks. Drought-Resilient Paddy varieties of short duration can offer multiple advantages: lower input use, less irrigation demand. With reduced irrigation requirements and an increased yield, there are possibilities that you can help Paddy increase the income from the farmer.
The way forward
The self -supply of India in Paddy masks deep shortages in other essential crops. In 2023–24, the country imported more than 15 million tons of edible oil and nearly 4 million tons of pulses, with an import account of more than £ 1.4 Lakh Crore. The domestic yields of pulses and oil -containing seeds remain the lowest worldwide, mainly due to limited investments in breeding crops and expansion support.
Genoma processing offers an important chance of correcting this imbalance. Washes such as chickpeas, pigeon, earth nut and mustard, which are crucial for food and farmers’ income, can benefit from precision breeding for drought resistance, plague tolerance and higher yields. Reducing scientific and policy liability for these crops is crucial for tackling both import dependence and national livelihood.
Genoma-processed paddy may not be justified for expanding the rice area or further intensifying monocultures. It should be used earlier as an aid to make existing Paddy cultivation more sustainable, especially in water-stungest and climate-vulnerable regions. To realize this potential, public seed systems must ensure that affordable access and farmer’s education must demystify the technology. At the same time, the research into genome processing should focus on pulses, oil -containing seeds and millet crops where the productivity holes are larger and the return on innovation could also be higher. This scientific reorientation must also be supported by reforming purchasing.
In conclusion, there is no doubt that the release of Paddy varieties processed by genome represents a milestone in Indian agricultural research, but will be the actual significance of how it is applied. At a time when India’s policy priorities have to shift to sustainability, nutritional safety and income achievement, such technologies must be used strategically. Genome processing can be a powerful lever of transformation, but only if it corresponds to broader goals to reduce input dependence, improve resilience and support the most vulnerable farmers in the country. We must remember that scientific progress only has real value if it benefits society in general.
The writer is a former full -time member (official), committee for agricultural costs and prices, New Delhi. Views are personal
Published on 26 May 2025
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