Like Salt to Wound

(Source: The Indian Express, Editorial Page)

Also Read: The Indian Express Editorial Analysis: 05 July 2025
Also Read: The Hindu Editorial Analysis: 05 July 2025

Topic: GS Paper 2: India–US Relations, International Trade Policy; GS Paper 3: Agriculture, GM Crops, Food Security, Technology in Farming

Context

The United States is pressuring India to open its markets to genetically modified (GM) maize and soyabean, products in which American farmers have a massive trade stake. However, India continues to restrict the cultivation of these GM crops domestically. This contradiction — where Indian farmers are denied technology while being exposed to global competition — lies at the heart of the editorial’s critique and raises questions about India’s scientific policy, regulatory consistency, and agricultural trade competitiveness.

US Trade Interests and Lobbying

• Under domestic political pressure from US Midwest “corn-belt” states, the US government (especially during Trump’s presidency) has pushed aggressively to open Indian agricultural markets to American GM produce.
• Exports from the US of soyabean and maize together amount to over $38 billion, with maize-based products like ethanol, maize meal, and dried distillers grains adding further value.
• The push to secure foreign markets like India reflects both economic necessity and electoral calculations in American politics.

Indian Farmers: Competing Without Equal Tools

• Indian soyabean yields are three times lower than those in the US due to the absence of GM seeds.
• US farmers cultivate GM soyabean that offer herbicide tolerance, pest resistance, and higher productivity.
• Despite banning domestic cultivation of GM soyabean, India imports nearly 5 million tonnes of GM-derived soy oil annually — an inconsistency that leaves farmers disadvantaged but processors dependent.
• Maize follows a similar story. States like Bihar, with low per-hectare yields, are unable to match the productivity of US states like Illinois or Iowa, where GM maize dominates cultivation.

The Policy Contradiction: Importing What We Don’t Allow Farmers to Grow

1. India’s biosecurity regulations prohibit domestic GM soyabean and maize farming, even as we import large quantities of GM-derived oils and animal feed.
2. This has a dual impact:

• Indian dairy and poultry sectors depend on imported soymeal and maize

• Indian farmers are unable to compete with subsidized, high-yielding GM crops grown in exporting countries
  • India’s reluctance is influenced by public opposition, activist litigation, and a lack of long-term scientific communication strategy.

What GM Technology Offers

GM soyabean and maize are not simply about yield — they offer a structural shift in farming systems:

• Pest resistance, reducing pesticide usage
• Herbicide tolerance, enabling easier weed management
• Better stress resistance, such as drought tolerance in some varieties
• Higher net returns, due to better yield and lower input costs
• Enhanced global competitiveness, especially in feed and processing industries

Broader Implications for Indian Agriculture and Trade

The current policy framework puts India at a crossroads:

• Small farmers are left behind, while imports fill rising demand

• Regulatory contradictions increase uncertainty for agribusinesses

• Trade negotiations with the US and WTO get increasingly complicated
  • India’s stance creates conflict between its food processing needs and its agricultural policies, thereby reducing self-reliance.

Way Forward/Conclusion

• India must resolve the contradiction between its trade needs and domestic agri-tech policies.
• Continuing to import what we don’t allow our own farmers to grow undermines farmer welfare, technological progress, and food system efficiency.
• A rational GM policy, built on scientific evidence, transparent regulation, and stakeholder engagement, is the need of the hour.
• Without this, India risks falling behind in the global food chain and subjecting its farmers to unfair disadvantages in global competition.

GM Crop Policy – India vs USA

Category	India	United States
GM Crop Cultivation (Maize, Soyabean)	Not approved for farming; banned under biosecurity norms	Widely cultivated with regulatory support
GM Crop Imports (Oil/Feed)	Allowed (processed oil, feed derivatives)	Not relevant; major exporter
Farmer Access to GM Technology	Denied access due to policy paralysis	Full access with industry-government cooperation
Yield per Hectare (Soyabean)	~1.1 tonnes/ha	~3.6 tonnes/ha
Government Support for GM R&D	Minimal; biotech trials often delayed or blocked	Strong institutional and policy support

Practice Question: (GS-3 | 15 Marks | 250 Words) India continues to import GM-derived products while denying farmers access to GM technology. Critically analyze how this contradiction impacts agricultural productivity, trade competitiveness, and food security.