GM crops can meet India's food, biofuel needs

By Sourav Mishra & Abhishek Shanker

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India, which recorded the fastest growth in genetically modified (GM) crop adoption globally, could attain food self sufficiency once it allows commercialisation of GM crops, the head of a global research body said on Monday.

"India can become self sufficient in food production by use of biotechnology in food crops," Clive James, chairman of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, told Reuters in an interview.

India, with a shortage in wheat, edible oils and a tight supply in rice, has a 250-billion-rupee food security mission, aimed at producing an additional 8 million tonnes of wheat, 10 million tonnes of rice and 2 million tonnes of pulses in 4 years.

India, the world's second-biggest wheat producer, bought 5.5 million tonnes of the grain in 2006 and 1.8 million tonnes last year, igniting global commodity markets.

It is the world's second biggest importer of edible oils with imports meeting over 40 percent of demand. It banned non-basmati rice exports to meet domestic need, after 2007/08 summer output was seen stagnant.

"The story of Bt cotton in India is remarkable....it can replicate the success in food crops," said James.

India surpassed the U.S. to become the second biggest producer of cotton in 2006/07, after adopting GM crops.

India's GM cotton area is estimated at 6.33 million hectares or 66 percent of the total cotton area in 2007/08, up from 3.69 million hectares in 2006/07, according to Cotton Advisory Board.