Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMH-11)

• Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11) was developed in 2002 by Deepak Pental of Delhi University through transgenic technology.
• It is a genetically modified form of herbicide-tolerant (HT) mustard.
• It contains two alien genes (barnase and barstar) isolated from a soil bacterium called Bacillus amyloliquefacians which helps develop high-yielding commercial mustard hybrids.
• GEAC approved the commercial cultivation proposal of DMH-11 in 2017, but it was rejected by the environment ministry. The ministry suggested that GEAC should conduct more studies on GM crop.

Positive effects of DMH-11

• It can solve the challenges of food security.
• Its yield is high and thus provides high income to the farmers.
• It can reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides and thus protect the environment.

Negative effects of DMH-11

• It can cause long-term consequences on human health.
• It can make farmers vulnerable to unfair practices of MNCs
• It can cause genetic contamination of the environment

What can happen next?

• The central government will take a final decision on whether to allow it for commercial cultivation or not.
• Commercial use of DMH-11 will be subject to the Seeds Act and related rules and regulations.

GM crops in India

• Cotton: In 2002, GEAC approved Bt cotton for commercial cultivation in 6 states namely Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Bt cotton is the first and only transgenic crop approved by GEAC.
• Brinjal: Mahyco jointly developed Bt brinjal with Dharwad University of Agricultural Sciences and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
• GEAC recommended a commercial release of Bt brinjal in 2007, but this initiative was put on hold in 2010.

Conclusion

• Impact assessment by independent environmentalists should be done before commercial cultivation of GM mustard, as farmers cannot assess the long-term impact of GM crops on ecology and health. Apart from this, strict adherence to safety protocols should be ensured.