Govt should not be carried away by anti-GM views: Sharad Pawar

Pitching for adoption of modern farm technologies for better yields, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said the government should not get carried away by the "misplaced apprehensions" against scientifically proven developments like genetically modified (GM) crops.

Pawar emphasised that farm output could only be increased through raising crop yields of the existing cultivable area.

"In this background, I am of the firm opinion that we must adopt the modern scientific solutions which are based on sound and proven practices. We also cannot afford to curtail the vigour of our scientific community if they are conducting research with all the precautions.

"We should not get carried away by the misplaced apprehensions against the scientifically proven developments such as GM crops," he said at an event here.

His views on GM crops come in the wake of a Parliamentary panel recommending ban on field trials of GM crops. A moratorium has been imposed on commercial release of Bt brinjal.

At present, Bt cotton is allowed for commercial cultivation but not food crops. However, some states have permitted fields trials in corn and mustard seed.

Pawar said the country need to ensure sustainable agriculture growth with limited availability of natural resources including land.