Genome editing is distinctly different from genetically modified crops. It allows scientists to make targeted modifications to a plant’s own DNA without introducing foreign genes
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FARUQUI AM
India has scripted a new chapter in agricultural innovation with the recent release of two genome-edited (GE) paddy varieties by the Union Agriculture Minister at a meet organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). This development coincides with India looking to become the world’s largest paddy producer.
But do we need genome-edited paddy when we already cultivate more paddy than we need? Are GE crops safe? Will they benefit the average farmer, especially the marginal and smallholders who form the backbone of Indian agriculture?
Why choose paddy?
Paddy is currently cultivated on over 47 million hectares (mha) in India, making it the single largest food crop in terms of area. While production has steadily increased from 31 mt in 1965-66 to nearly 150 mt now, this growth has come at significant environmental and economic costs. The average water requirement for paddy is 3,000-5,000 litres per kilogram of grain, leading to unsustainable groundwater extraction, especially in the north-western States. Furthermore, methane emissions from flooded paddy fields significantly contribute to India’s agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
The newly introduced genome-edited varieties reportedly offer three key advantages: mature early (15-20 days earlier than their parent varieties) resulting in three rounds of saving on irrigation, increases yield by 15-20 per cent and is more drought-tolerant. Both traits aim to reduce input costs, enable more flexible crop cycles and support sustainable crop intensification.
Genome editing is distinctly different from genetically modified (GM) crops. Genome editing allows scientists to make targeted modifications to a plant’s own DNA without introducing foreign genes. In contrast, GM organisms involve the insertion of genes from other species, which may trigger health issues. Recognising this crucial distinction, India’s 2022 “Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Genome Edited Plants” exempt certain genome-edited crops (those without transgenes) from the lengthy GMO regulatory process.
This aligns with global regulatory trends in countries such as the US, Japan and Australia. When developed under stringent scientific protocols, genome-edited crops have shown no evidence of being unsafe or toxic. In fact, they offer a faster, more precise alternative to conventional breeding, with the potential to reduce input use, improve resilience and enhance food production.
Could this raise income?
Will it benefit the farmers is the question that needs answering? Over 86 per cent of India’s farmers are marginal and small farmers, with landholdings under two hectares. For them, affordability, climate-resilience and stable returns are far more important than scientific novelty.
If genome-edited seeds are priced like hybrids or GM crops, adoption will be marred. However, since the two varieties in question were developed by the ICAR-supported public-sector institutions, there is a scope for equitable dissemination. Government programmes like the National Food Security Mission or PM-KISAN seed mini-kits can be used to distribute seeds through extension networks and cooperatives, ensuring that smallholders are not left behind.
Paddy cultivation in India is becoming increasingly uneconomical. Even with an MSP of ₹2,320 per quintal for 2024-25, farmers often struggle with rising costs of fertilizer, diesel and labour. Moreover, erratic weather patterns experienced recently have increased crop risks. Short-duration, drought-resilient paddy varieties can offer multiple benefits: lower input use, less irrigation demand. With reduced irrigation requirements and increased yield, there are possibilities that GE paddy may help increase the farmer’s income.
The way forward
India’s self-sufficiency in paddy masks deep deficits in other essential crops. In 2023–24, the country imported over 15 million tonnes of edible oil and nearly 4 million tonnes of pulses, incurring an import bill of more than ₹1.4 lakh crore. Domestic yields of pulses and oilseeds remain among the lowest globally, primarily due to limited investment in crop breeding and extension support.
Genome editing offers a major opportunity to correct this imbalance. Crops like chickpea, pigeon pea, groundnut and mustard, which are crucial for nutrition and farmer income, could benefit from precision breeding for drought resistance, pest tolerance and higher yields. Redirecting scientific and policy attention to these crops is critical for addressing both import dependence and rural livelihoods.
Genome-edited paddy must not become a justification for expanding the paddy area or further intensifying monocultures. Rather, it should be used as a tool to make existing paddy cultivation more sustainable, especially in water-stressed and climate-vulnerable regions. To realise this potential, public seed systems must ensure affordable access and farmer training must demystify the technology. At the same time, genome-editing research should turn towards pulses, oilseeds and millets crops where productivity gaps are larger and returns on innovation could be higher as well. This scientific reorientation must also be backed by procurement reforms.
To conclude, there is no doubt that the release of genome-edited paddy varieties represents a milestone in Indian agricultural research, but its real significance will lie in how it is applied. At a time when India’s policy priorities must shift towards sustainability, nutrition security and income equity, such technologies must be harnessed strategically. Genome editing can be a powerful lever of transformation, but only if it aligns with broader goals of reducing input dependence, enhancing resilience and supporting the country’s most vulnerable farmers. We need to remember that scientific progress holds real value only when it benefits society at large.
The writer is former full-time Member (Official), Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, New Delhi. Views are personal
Published on May 26, 2025