New Delhi, Jan 10: Even as India has pressed the panic button over imports and aid of Genetically Modified (GM) corn-soya, scientists here feel introduction of transgenic mustard for domestic cultivation could be further delayed as the process for more tests has not been initiated.

"I do not think gm-mustard has been posted for tests at ICAR this year and on account of its possible effect on the food-chain, the introduction of the transgenic variety may be further delayed," former director-general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Panjab Singh said. Singh, who has demitted office after superannuation a few days back, said that the company pro-agro may be conducting tests on its own but has not put up its varieties for further trials by the ICAR after the four tests which were conducted last year.

However, GM-varieties of brinjal, turnip, cauliflower, tomato and groundnut are in different stages of development and will be released in 2-3 years, Singh said.

He said that the country is not in a hurry to introduce GM-crops, pre-set procedures will take their own course as no compromise can be made on the issue of bio-safety.

Proagro has been conducting trails on the GM-Mustard since 1996 and the transgenic variety has passed through 40 such tests but what matters most is the detailed analysis by ICAR which is crucial for the official clearance, he added.

It will be incorrect to say that India is against the introduction of GM-crops but the green signal cannot be given just off-hand and full bio-safety trials have to be conducted.

Singh said that GM-Cotton has already been released for commercial cultivation but its human consumption as cottonseed oil is limited, unlike mustard which is used both as food and cattle feed on a large scale.
Bureau Report