Agri Min clarifies government stand on GM crops

The government will "abide by Supreme Court directions" on allowing Genetically Modified crops in the country, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today said while clarifying Centre's stand on the controversial issue.
"The matter of GM crops is pending in the Supreme Court and the directions given by it will be implemented. The government will abide by SC directions," Singh told reporters while reacting to a question on the issue.
The statement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for genetic engineering while talking about scarcity of pulses in the country during the launch of Doordarshan Kisan channel for farmers. He also referred to increasing protein content and productivity of pulses while talking about research and genetic engineering.

Singh who was here to attend a programme marking the completion of one year of Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, talked about numerous welfare schemes launched in various sectors including agriculture during this period.
Calling it an "year of uplift" the union minister said the policies of the central government were dedicated to the villagers, farmers, youth, unemployed, poor and downtrodden people of the society.
"The UPA government had accepted ending Minimum Support Price (MSP) at World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting from 2016, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused to do so as it was anti-farmer. The welfare of farmers is at his heart," he said.

Singh said a network of cold chain and storages is being formed across the country to protect harvested perishable crops. Seventeen food parks, which will provide employment to around 1 lakh youth and benefit 5 lakh farmers are also in the offing, of which two have already been inaugurated.
"We have started Soil Health Card scheme, Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana for irrigation, traditional agriculture development and National Gokul Mission in the country. The work to provide 'smart card' to 45 crore labourers has been started. It will provide benefits related to old age pension, life insurance and health insurance to them," Singh added.