Genetically Modified Crops in India: Politics, Policies, and Political Economy

Abstract

Abstract The proposed chapter will explore Genetically Modified crops in India in terms of its narrative, state policies, and its political economy. The discourse analysis of the policies on agribiotechnology and GM crop regulation will illuminate its imperative in terms of agrarian, environmental, legal, and development aspects. Agribiotech has been subject of opposite and extreme reaction evoking ardent reinforcement from its jubilant supporters on one hand, to the demand of complete ban by its vehement critics on the other hand. What explains the entailing of complex cultural, ethical, political-economic question on its use in agriculture, generating adverse public reactions from different corners? Why all the debates on the topics are framed in the semantics of extremes? Agricultural policies are shaped by the constant interaction between the state institutions, techno-scientific establishments, and agribusiness industry. A closer study of the prevailing policies will allow to explore the possibilities and opportunities that agribiotech could offer to a developing country like India. Equally important will be to ensure that such agricultural interventions should be juxtaposed against the interest of marginal fragile farmers who are in majority in India. The trade-off of farmers rights, particularly in context of sinister deployment of technology such as Genetic Use Restriction Technology (GURT) are highly questionable and therefore has been rejected by India. Such application of biotech will not only smothers the democratic spaces of the vast farming communities but will aid the consolidation of monopoly over food and farming by global agribusiness. However, the real challenge lies in exploring the ways and means to creatively engage with the discourse of GM crops in order to take advantage of such emerging technologies for the benefit of the masses.