Govt can't ban field trials of GM crops: Pawar

Dismissing Parliamentary panel's suggestion to halt all field trials of GM crops, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has said the government can't take "luxurious decision of banning" them because such kind of farm research is important for ensuring food security.

In August, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, headed by Basudeb Acharia, had recommended to the government to stop all open-field trials of transgenic crops until it develops a better system of monitoring and oversight.