Pawar suspects genetically modified crops opposed by vested interests

NAGPUR: Union agriculture minister and NCPsupremoSharadPawar gave a new twist to the controversy on genetically modified (GM) crops like cotton and soyabean. He said the fact that lobbies in the United States could be funding campaigns in India against GM crops, especially in soyabean, so as to protect the interests of large seed and oil exporters.

"India is a major importer of edible oils. We spend to the tune of Rs 60,000 crore on edible oil imports. Of this, soya oil is a big chunk. If soya GM crop is taken up on a large scale in India, its output and that of oil extracted from it would increase considerably and at some time exports may not be required," said Pawar adding that he suspected that MNCs that would be hit hard could be funding campaigns against GM soya crop in India.