Experts Raise Concerns Over Herbicide Tolerant Seeds

Herbicide Tolerant Seeds: Amid India’s Crackdown on Pesticide Makers

Following the Indian government’s recent action against a pesticide manufacturer—ordered by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan—experts are now turning their attention to the growing approval of herbicide-tolerant (HT) seed varieties. They warn that these seeds, which are designed to withstand chemical herbicides, could lead to increased herbicide usage and long-term soil pollution.

“There’s a mismatch,” said a senior agricultural scientist. “We have several herbicides approved for use, but only a limited number of crop varieties that are actually herbicide-tolerant. This gap is driving research efforts to develop more HT varieties and encouraging companies to push herbicide sales.”

Sources within agricultural research institutions and state universities confirm that work is underway to develop new HT varieties. One such example is the push to approve a herbicide-tolerant version of the ‘Swarna Sub 1’ rice variety, which is already known for its resilience to flooding.

Experts are urging caution, suggesting that the rush to approve HT seeds without fully considering their environmental impact could have unintended consequences for soil health and sustainable farming.