The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
An expert committee has termed sound all scientific findings concerning the country’s first genetically modified (GM) crop — Bt Brinjal — and is now preparing its review report on those for forwarding it to the agriculture ministry, officials said yesterday. On receipt of the experts’ report, the National Technical Committee …
There are only two kinds of genetically modified agricultural products permitted for commercial production in China - cotton and papaya, a news report said. Agricultural authorities have granted certificates of safety to four types of GM produce - cotton, rice, corn and papaya, of which only cotton and papaya have …
Do you think only ‘Monsanto’ (or any multinational seed company) has the capacity to develop transgenic crops? The answer is a clear ‘no’. Indian scientists, working with public sector research institutions and universities, too have developed many genetically engineered varieties which, in fact, could not move beyond lab or ‘restricted’ …
Demanding that steps be taken to increase the country's cotton production, Southern India Mills' Association (SIMA) on Wednesday said field trials on genetically modified (GM) cotton varieties should be given a go ahead. Speaking on the sidelines of the annual general body meeting, newly elected president of SIMA T Rajkumar …
Group chaired by former UN secretary general urges farmers to shake fear of the unknown and adopt new technologies Concern in Africa over genetically modified crops has been dismissed as fear of the unknown by an environmental group chaired by Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary general. A report by …
A group of U.S. farmers, seed companies and others challenging patents on genetically altered crops held by biotech seed giant Monsanto Co. on Thursday appealed their case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The group, made up of 73 organic and conventional family farmers, seed companies and public advocacy interests, sued …
The mechanism for certifying the safety of transgenic crops and genetically modified (GM) food in India are most stringent and dynamic, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), consisting of over farm scientists, said here. At a press conference, R.B. Singh, President of NAAS, in response to the recent report …
Despite the ongoing controversy over their use, genetically modified (GM) crops have progressively grown in popularity and are now planted in approximately 160 million hectares in 29 countries. In the discussions of biosafety regulations for GM crops and whether to approve such crops for commercialization, many countries, including some African …
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said farmers tend to prefer growing genetically modified crops as they give a higher yield and there has been a significant jump in productivity. "We are for organic farming; there are no two ways about it. But in Bt cotton production, 86 lakh bales were produced …
GENETICALLY modified crops and vegetables may have become a rage worldwide but these food items, produced in artificial conditions with the aid of special proteins, are poor substitute for organic produce. While such products have become popular in the west due to slick campaigning, there is no doubt that lab …
New Delhi: With all eyes set on the Supreme Court to resolve the controversial issue of genetically modified (GM) food crops in India, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday appealed to all stakeholders, including activists and policy-makers, to take a “sensible approach” so that it could solve the problem of …
With all eyes set on the Supreme Court to resolve the controversial issue of GM food crops in India, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday appealed to all stakeholders, including activists and policy makers, to take a "sensible approach" so that it could solve the problem of food security in …
India's regulatory system has to be rigorous and efficient. R S Paroda, the lone voice of dissent in the Supreme Court-appointed Technical Expert Committee (TEC) on genetically-modified (GM) crops, has severely criticised the committee's recommendations to uphold a moratorium on field trials of GM crops, sources said. Paroda's view is …
New Delhi : A member of the Supreme Court appointed Technical Expert Committee (TEC) on GM crops has told the apex court that the five other members on the panel had submitted a report without his “knowledge or consent”. R S Paroda, the representative for the agriculture and plant genetic …
New Delhi: In a new-found boldness fraught with significant implications, the agriculture ministry has begun pushing for allowing trials of GM crops. As the Supreme Court is set to resume hearing on controversial GM crop issues from next month, the ministry may in Parliament on Tuesday try to allay the …
The Government will not allow commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal till independent studies establish that the genetically modified food crop (GM crop) does not impact human health, the Lok Sabha was today informed. The Environment Minister, Jayanthi Natarajan said “no” in her reply to a written question on whether the …
Registering strong protest on the consistent false statements by the Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, to promote GM crops, the Coalition for a GM Free India urged the Members of the Parliament to challenge Pawar for repeatedly misleading the Parliament. This was in response to answers given by the Union …
New Delhi : Ahead of the debate on the Food Security Bill in parliament, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said Saturday that while he supports the Bill, he has concerns about keeping up with rising demand unless drastic steps, including approval to more genetically modified crops, are taken simultaneously to boost …
A delegation from the Coalition for a GM free India and Greenpeace India, delivered petitions from over 4 lakh Indians demanding the withdrawal of Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill. The petitions were delivered to Dr T Subbarami Reddy, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & …
Copy of report was not available to govt counsel, several other parties in public interest petitions The much-awaited report of the expert committee on genetically modified crops could not be considered by the Supreme Court today as its copy was not available to the government counsel and several other parties …
