Chennai: Tamil Nadu Government will not allow genetically modified (GM) mustard in the state, agriculture minister R. Doraikannu said on Wednesday.
He also said the state government would not even allow testing of the GM mustard in Tamil Nadu. “We will not allow GM mustard to be introduced in Tamil Nadu. We will not even allow their testing in Tamil Nadu. The Chief Minister will take every step to ensure that GM crops are not introduced in Tamil Nadu,” Doraikannu said.
His comments came as farmers and political parties opposed the introduction of GM crops in the state. Farmers have alleged that cultivation of GM mustard would directly hit their livelihood.
Experts have cautioned against the approval for GM mustard’s commercial cultivation in India as it paves away to other genetically modified crops. Health experts also joined the farmers and environmentalists in the voice against the herbicide tolerant crop like GM Mustard, as they put forth the health hazard of the consumers.
The agriculture minister’s comments came as Opposition Leader M.K. Stalin wrote to Union environment minister Harsh Vardhan asking him not to allow introduction of GM mustard in the country.
