A New Green Revolution in India?

India and the US have recently entered an agreement to conduct joint agricultural research in biotechnology. The research will focus on the development of drought- and heat-resistant crops suitable for the Indian climate. There is little new land available for agricultural development in the Asian nation, but increased food production is needed to feed the growing population. Analysts note that India's agricultural production lags behind countries that grow biotech crops. Leaders hope that biotechnology can increase farm productivity enough to help the country meet its economic and development goals.

Critics are concerned that farmers will become dependent on large biotech firms and doubt the claims of increased productivity promised by the industry. Farmers have definitely shown interest in modified crops however, rapidly expanding their planting of genetically modified Bollgard cotton seeds since Monsanto was first allowed to sell them in India in 2002.

Link:
Bush, Biotech Can Transform India’s Countryside from Bloomberg

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 11:42 AM on March 22, 2006