Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that genetically modified technology is “like playing with nature”, even if it helps increase productivity. He also indicated that there may be a further hike in the import duty on edible oils.

“To increase production, it is necessary to have quality seeds. We are trying to get it from lab to land as quickly as possible. But we have our limitations. We do not allow genetically modified (GM) seeds (in food crops) whereas other countries get bumper production by using GM seeds. Their cost of production also comes down. There is a wide gap between the productivity of soybeans and pulses in India and other countries because they use GM seeds. But we do not have to play with nature,” Chouhan said while addressing a conclave on farmer producer organisations (FPOs), organised by Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS).

Referring to the edible oil import duty imposed in September last year, he said that the experiment did not help in boosting domestic soyabean prices. “Still, we will continue such experiments in the future as well,” he said.

Pointing out that the import duty on (crude) edible oil was zero per cent which the government raised effectively to 27 per cent, making imported oils costlier so that the domestically-produced oils get a market and farmers also get fair price.

Published on March 26, 2025