The environmental release of GM crops is under adjudication in the Writ Petition (Civil) 115/2004 titled as Gene Campaign Vs. Union of India & Ors. and Writ Petition (Civil) 260 of 2005 titled as Aruna Rodrigues Vs. Union of India & Ors., respectively before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, which covers the various aspects of GM crops.

Government of India supports the efforts of States through appropriate policy measures, budgetary allocation and various schemes/ programmes like awareness campaign at village level through crop demonstration and training programmes. The various schemes/ programmes of the Government of India like PM Fasal Bima Yojana, NAMO Kisan Yojana & adoption of integrated crop management practices are meant for the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers. The Government of India has substantially enhanced the budget allocation of Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare from Rs. 21933.50 crore BE during 2013-14 to Rs. 1,22,528.77 crore BE during 2024-25.

The data/details related to suicides Committee by farmers is maintained by respective State Government.

National Agricultural Research System under aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through its institutes and State Agriculture Universities have developed new varieties/hybrids tolerant to various biotic and abiotic stresses with enhanced quality. During the last ten years (2014 - 2024), 92 varieties of Soybean, 239 of Maize and 331 of Cotton/Bt Cotton have been released and recommended for commercial cultivation. The location-specific high yielding varieties and their management technologies and practices of these varieties are recommended for farmers of the country, regularly. Different weed management technologies along with the existing mechanical and chemical weed control strategies in cotton, maize and soybean have been developed and disseminated among farmers for large scale adoption though KVKs, State Department of Agriculture, Doordarshan, ICT tools like mobile apps, etc.

This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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 MG/KSR

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