Science Offers the Surest Antidote for Pest-Hit Farms
The agriculture sector faces a critical challenge from pests and weeds. This problem underscores the urgent need for agricultural research and development. It is a strategic imperative for India's food security.
Hidden Weed Threat to Mustard Crops
Weeds are a well-known danger to agricultural produce. They compete with crops for nutrients, water, and sunlight. Most unwanted plants grow above the ground. Farmers can remove them manually.
The real issue lies with weeds that attach to plant roots. By the time their shoots become visible, the damage is already severe. Mustard farmers in Rajasthan and Haryana are experiencing this firsthand.
They are battling Orobanche aegyptiaca, a root parasitic weed. This weed has emerged as a major hidden threat to India's largest edible oil crop. The situation highlights why agricultural R&D is so crucial.
Urgency in the Face of Climate Change
The need for action is even more pressing due to climate change. New pathogens and weeds are emerging constantly. When weeds cannot be removed by hand, and with labor becoming scarce, alternative solutions are essential.
More efforts must focus on breeding crop varieties or hybrids. These should tolerate the application of herbicides. This approach can help control weeds effectively without harming the crops.
Innovations in Herbicide-Tolerant Crops
Several institutions have made significant progress. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute and Savannah Seeds developed rice with a mutated ALS gene. This altered DNA sequence allows farmers to spray imazethapyr, a broad-spectrum herbicide.
The herbicide kills weeds without damaging the standing crop. Mahyco achieved similar results for wheat. Some mustard farmers have planted a hybrid from Corteva Agriscience.
This hybrid tolerates two other herbicides: imazapyr and imazapic. Whether it can control Orobanche remains to be seen. In all these cases, herbicide tolerance comes from mutation breeding, not genetic modification.
Government Support and Future Directions
The Centre has taken a positive step. It permitted commercial cultivation of non-GM herbicide-tolerant and gene-edited crops. However, it should not close the door on GM technology entirely.
Scientists at Delhi University developed GM mustard lines. These incorporate a foreign 'cp4 epsps' and a double-mutant ALS gene. They confer tolerance to different herbicides.
Using several herbicides can address resistance issues. Continuous application of a single molecule often leads to resistance buildup. A multi-herbicide approach offers a more sustainable solution.
Embracing New Technologies
Agriculture is too vital a sector to ignore new technologies. At the very least, large-scale field trials should test their efficacy and biosafety. Such trials can provide valuable data and ensure safety.
Investing in science and innovation is key to overcoming agricultural challenges. It ensures long-term food security for the nation. Farmers need reliable tools to protect their crops and livelihoods.
