BANGLADESH MAKES A BEGINNING!

On 30^th December 2013, Bangladesh approved the official release of four genetically modified varieties of insect-resistant Bt Brinjal for initial commercialization. Subsequently, on January 22, 2014, the seedlings of four Bt Brinjal varieties designated as Bt Brijal-1, Bt Brijal-2, Bt Brijal-3 and Bt Brijal-4 were distributed by Ms. Motia Chowdhury, Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Bangladesh to twenty small brinjal farmers of Bangladesh to undertake production of Bt Brinjal in a total area of two hectares to start with. Interestingly, the Government of Bangladesh was piloting the propagation of Bt Brinjal.

The authorization for limited commercial cultivation was subjected to stringent conditions to preparation of fields, maintenance of isolation distance, management of border row by planting local and indigenous non-Bt varieties, planting of a structure refuge of 5% with non-Bt varieties around the Bt Brinjal plot, marketing of Bt Brinjal as per seed leveling etc. The commercial plantation sites would be under surveillance of National Committee on Biosafety (NCB) and Biosafety Core Committee (BCC) of Bangladesh.

Earlier, the Bt Brinjal varieties were developed by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of Bangladesh. The release of the Bt Brijal varieties by the Honorable Minister succeeds the recommendation and approval of the four varieties by the Bangladesh Agricultural Council (BARC), Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) of Bangladesh and the National Committee on Biosafety (NCB) of the Ministry of Environment of Bangladesh. The four Bt varieties developed by BARI was through back-crossing of non-Bt varieties locally known as Uttara, Kajla, Nayantara and Ishurdi/ISD006 respectively with Bt Brinjal Elite Event (EE1) obtained from the Indian seed company Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co. Ltd. (MAHYCO), Jalna (INDIA) through the US Cornell University-led Biotech Support Project II. BARI infiltrated the Bt genes of event EE-1 into locally adopted and commercially popular brinjals of Bangladesh through repeated back-crossing. The varieties chosen were Uttara, Kajla, Nayantara and Ishurdi/ISD006 as mentioned above.

MAHYCO donated the EE1 to BARI in 2005 in a public-private partnership arrangement. The Bt Brinjal EE1 contains Cry1Ac gene and expresses insecticidal protein cry1Ac in whole plant and fruit parts. This protein is toxic to fruit and shoot borers (FBS). In Brinjal cultivation, particularly the FBS Leucinodes orbonalis creates considerable loss to the plant and to the fruits, rendering the latter unsuitable for marketing. The Bt Brinjal developed by BARI effectively prevents attack from FBS Leucinodes orbonali.

Between the period from 2005 to 2013, extensive experimentation was carried out by the authorities of Bangladesh. From such studies, it was concluded that Bt Brinjal could elevate the yields by above 30% over the non-Bt Brinjals and would reduce the spray of insecticides by 70-90%. These benefits would result in substantial net economic gain to the growers.

After the seedlings of the Bt Brinjal varieties were distributed by the Minister of Agriculture of Bangladesh in January 2014, the produce has started to enter the Bangladesh market. Several of the twenty farmers who received the Bt seedlings have shown great satisfaction as they have started to gain economically. It has been calculated that the economic benefit could be as high as over US$ 1800 per hectare where the annual per capita income in Bangladesh is only US$ 700; the gain is therefore substantial!

It is anticipated that the initial landmark decision of the Government of Bangladesh to distribute seedlings of four Bt Brinjal varieties would go a long way and over the years more of Bt Brinjal would be grown. This is more so because the varieties are open pollinated and farmers can save seeds for re-sowing in the next seasons. If the results of the commercial cultivation started in a small area of two hectares show substantial benefits, there is no reason why this would not create a great impact in uplifting the economy of the poor cultivators of Bangladesh. Brinjal is stated to be grown in Bangladesh in about 50,000 hectares of arable land by about 150,000 farmers of the country.

Of all the diseases of Brinjal, infestation from FBS is a major cause of loss. However, the plant is also affected by several other diseases like bacterial wilt and little leaf diseases. It is anticipated that the experiment of Bangladesh started in a small way will make room for doing more research to develop varieties that are resistant to other diseases of Brinjal too.

If the above story succeeds, we can guess that Bt varieties would also be introduced in rice, sugarcane, potato, maize and several other vegetables thereby making the availability of plenty of food from the arable land.

The Bangladesh experiment shall be an eye-opener for many other countries all over the world.

Source:   
http://www.isaaa.org; http://www.isaaa.org/kc; Choudhary B, Nasiruddin KM and Gaur K, 2014, The Status of Commercialized Bt Brinjal in Bangladesh, ISAAA Brief No. 47, ISAAA: Ithaca, NY;  
http://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/en/;   http://www.bhookh.com/hunger_facts.php

http://gandipsbio.com/Articles/Papers/12_GM%20Plants_Ind_Agri_1997.pdf

KEY AREAS TO BOOST MODERN BIOTECH SECTOR IN INDIA TO EMERGE AS A MAJOR GLOBAL PLAYER

The Indian Biotechnology sector is expected to emerge as a global key player as India has its strong pool of engineers and scientists, profound institutional network and cost-competitive manufacturing outfits. In addition the national research laboratories with their scientists can develop innovative R&D and application-oriented materials. The biotech industry turnover is considered to be over USD 5 billion in FY 2013-14 and is poised to grow at 15-18% per year.

BIOPHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR

Biopharmaceutical sector holds the major chunk of the biotech industry. While a wide range of products are manufactured, in the global context there is a great gap between what is available globally and what is available in Indian market in the following sub-sectors:

•        Humanized Monoclonal Antibodies of diverse kinds
•        Molecular Diagnostics and Point of Care devices
•        Vaccines especially to treat tropical and poverty-linked diseases, some viral and bacterial        infections
•         Vaccines to treat systemic disorders, e.g. prostate ailments, hormonal disorders, certain          cancers etc.

Humanized Monoclonal Antibodies

These products are entering into the market with rapid speed from different parts of the world. India is making progress but at a much slower pace. Biologics or Biopharmaceuticals or Similar Biologics or Biosimilars are terms coined by different countries for biological substances produced by living organisms. Such products are generally produced by recombinant DNA technology utilizing microorganisms or eukaryotic cell lines, depending upon the complexity of the biologics. The products are also purified by complex processes. Because of these inherent complexities, no two biologics produced by two organizations are exactly similar, although there exist substantial resemblance. Since the biologics are complex biopolymers, existence of all the molecules in specific orientation is also another issue as the bio-activities are linked with ligand-receptor interactions where the intact structures of molecules in right orientation are extremely important. Even though a large number of biologics is getting patent-expired every year and therefore, other manufacturers would try to encash the opportunity for business gain, worldwide there are debates among the regulators, the manufacturers, the users and the vocal public on issues relating to efficacy and safety of similar biologics supplied by other manufacturers who are not the inventors. The following issues in this context require to be addressed and resolved:

Ø  There is a strong contention from some countries that non-inventor suppliers of similar biologics should compare the efficacy of their products against one reference product only and that the reference product should be the product manufactured and marketed by the inventor. The issues among others are how to get the authentic bulk materials of the inventors; at best the formulated materials could be available from the market. Here also, issues of restricted availability or non-marketing of products in Indian market could create hindrance. The debate is therefore whether there could be exceptions to such assumptions and if so, what alternate solutions could be put forward that are doable and acceptable by the regulators in India and abroad.

Ø  There is good agreement among different stakeholders that the similar biologics should conform to the general physico-chemical properties of the inventors’ product. There is however disagreement about how much variation on the “residues” be allowed. There is also disagreement about how much purity, measured by which method is acceptable for a similar biological to be accepted as equivalent to the inventors’ product. There is a need to develop standards to resolve this issue for each biosimilar products and that such standards should be acceptable to the regulatory authorities all over the world. The debate is who is going to develop such a standard and wherefrom the basic inputs of information be obtained.

Ø  While a similar biologic can be produced by use of different recombinant hosts/cell lines, which are different from those utilized by the inventor, there can be disagreement about the product equivalence of the manufactured similar biologic as there could be minor difference in the content of impurities in such similar biologics from the inventor’s biologic. Here also an agreement is to be arrived at on the extent of the presence of the impurities and their safety as well as efficacy issues. The debate is, how could an unanimity be arrived at which is also acceptable to the regulators. 

Ø  While biosimilar products or similar biologics are supposed to be therapeutically interchangeable for different approved applications, there are issues and argument for agreeing to “interchangeability concept” based on different kinds of factors such as change in the cell line, change in the downstream processing operations etc. although the similar biologics may conform to the general physico-chemical properties of the invented biologic product. We need to come out with solutions that are acceptable to the regulators.

Ø  For generating efficacy and safety information on similar biologics, the trials that are required to be conducted following establishment of safety of the formulated similar biologics in approved animal models, the number of human subjects are to be limited and also the sites of trials are to be in smaller in numbers, as enough efficacy and safety information had already been generated by the inventors. The numbers of human subjects to be considered and also the testing sites are also a subject matter on which there is no unanimity as yet.

There is a need to prepare and announce a policy paper in consultation with the industry to promote the introduction of Similar Biologicals faster into the Indian market.

Molecular Diagnostics and Point of Care devices

India is yet much behind in the actual use of techniques of Diagnosis at molecular level as the nucleic acid extraction kits are expensive, not easily made in India and that the DNA amplifying machines are also expensive. This is also true for all other kinds of Point of Care devices. While there is an urgent need to set up target oriented R&D projects, efforts are also to be made to pinpoint which equipment, devices and consumables must be made locally to compete with the world. The industry can team up with the National R&D laboratories and draw a White Paper to cover these aspects.

Vaccines of diverse kinds

India has made strong contribution to the health of the people in the world by producing cheapest vaccines for containing childhood diseases commonly occurring from bacterial and viral infections such as DPT, Polio, MMR, Hepatitis B etc.

The world is making phenomenal progress in containing several disease conditions through immunological interventions, ligand-receptor interactions and signal modulation methods. Vaccines are making great progress in containing not only certain microbial diseases but also several kinds of cancer, auto-immune disorders etc. The emphasis in research and development in this country has also to keep pace with such advancements. Specific programs can be drawn up by the industry to suggest application oriented research in national institutes for doable product development in specific areas. India is yet quite behind in knowledge and applications in this important emerging area.

Certain systemic disorders leading to diseases related to post-industrialization syndrome such as diabetes, hypertension and stress among the working class including laborers are fast increasing. These are resulting in cardio-vascular diseases, stroke and kidney disorders. Different kinds of cancer are also rapidly increasing. Diagnosis, treatment and cure are the areas where new products can be developed and introduced by the industry. There is a need for encouragement and facilitation from the government in terms of policy support to promote diagnosis and therapy in these areas. There is a need to identify specific industry-related problems and prepare a white paper for a roadmap for future development.

Among the other areas in biopharmaceuticals requiring government and industry intervention are to treat cost effectively malnutrition, tuberculosis and certain viral diseases like HIV, HBV, HCV and HPV. Biotech inputs for the promotion of cost-effective products and services can be identified and specific government interventions for promoting such products in people-friendly programs can be thought about.

BIO-AGRICULTURE SEGMENT

GM seeds

In bio-agricultural sector including animal husbandry is another important area which needs promotion. Use of Bt-cotton technology in Indian agriculture made a sea change in increasing the production of better quality of cotton lint in the country and in promoting Indian textile industry in the global context. However, the GM technology for developing better seeds has been put to debate. This situation needs to be reversed. The industry should plead with the government to allow the development of GM seeds for a wide range of cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables. The development in the Indian public sector institutions in GM research is inadequate compared to what such institutions have done in the development of quality hybrid seeds and varieties. Research needs to be intensified and extensive collaboration should be encouraged to develop GM technology in seed sector in the country. This is an area requiring extensive financial resources and the Indian government may like to take the lead. Industry can be active partners.

Bovine Somatotropin

Even though India produces largest quantities of milk in the world, the per-animal milk yield is yet very poor. Our dependence on buffalos for milk is very high and yet much needs to be done to improve the health of the animal. Moreover, the country also has a very large number of non-productive animals in all categories of mulching life forms. This situation can be tackled by using genetically modified bovine somatotropin to improve milk yield in mulching animals. The technology is doable and such products are already approved elsewhere in many countries. Milk yield can be substantially raised by use of bovine somatotropin.

GnRH

Increase in the fish production is constrained by several factors, one among them is the non-availability of adequate numbers of fingerlings. Different kinds of highly purified GnRH can be produced by recombinant DNA technology and these can be used to raise different kinds of fingerlings in proper seasons. Use of such fingerlings shall certainly contribute to increased production of fish.

BIOINDUSTRIAL SECTOR

Genetically Modified Enzymes

The consumption of enzymes in industry is rising at a galloping speed. In food, feed and fodder industry, a wide range of enzymes are being utilized. Proteases of various kinds, phytase, amylase, cellulose and lipase of a wide spectrum are being used for obtaining better quality of products. The dairy industry also is in need of various enzymes, especially for producing better quality of cheese. Rennet of different qualities is required for the industry. In detergent industry, the use of alkaline protease, lipases, amylases, cellulases and pectinases have also increased sizably. In leather, paper and textiles, the use of enzymes in various operations have also increased considerably. In order to meet the rising demand of enzymes, many countries have resorted to the use of genetically modified organisms for boosting production. In India the production is yet from non-recombinant organisms and therefore the yields are low. There is a need to relook at the whole operation and introduce genetically modified enzymes utilizing a wide range of GM organisms. This will not only boost the local industry but would also increase the availability of the enzymes considerably.

It is therefore suggested that the following factors and issues be considered in preference for preparing position papers by the country to promote the Indian Biotech sector during the coming years:

1.    All efforts should be made by the industry and the government jointly to ease the production of Similar Biologicals within the ambit of national and international laws.

2.   New and effective vaccines utilizing recombinant DNA technology should be promoted to develop newer therapies to treat a wide range of life-threatening conditions.

3.  Cheaper and cost-effective diagnostics based on nucleic acids need to be developed to diagnose and treat certain communicable diseases like tuberculosis, HIV, HBV, HCV and HPV. Besides, emphasis should be made to diagnose early systemic diseases such as diabetes, cardio-vascular ailments, diseases of kidney, arthritis and various types of cancer of different organs.

4.     Emphasis should be made promote the use of GM seeds in Indian agriculture.

5.   For increasing milk production, use of bovine somatotropin of various types need to be produced and utilized.

6.   For increasing fish production, the use of different kinds of purified GnRH should be intensified.

7.   Enzymes of various qualities required for the industry need to be produced by utilizing genetically modified organisms including E.coli, yeast and other microbial life forms.

8.    Industry and Government should work in close collaboration and utilize the public funded institutions to the maximum extent for generating new products and services in modern biotech sector. Where necessary, collaborations with knowledge intensive companies including the multinational corporations should also be promoted and intensified. Policy statements towards achieving such goals should be made on a faster mode.

NEED FOR EXTENSIVE USE OF GM SEEDS IN INDIAN AGRICULTURE

Indian agriculture is largely based on smallholder farmers; such farmers also make up for a large proportion of   undernourished people worldwide. But by the use of Bt-cotton technology in Indian agriculture, the economy has tended to bring about a change in the small holder farmers by contributing to an increase in their earnings (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pbi.12155/pdf). India stood to become the second largest producer of cotton lint in the world by using the Bt- cotton technology, and is poised to become the largest producer of cotton in the world soon, beating China! Such is the contribution of this technology where small and medium holder farmers have also been immensely benefited. If cotton lint is available cheap in India, it would someday become the cheapest supplier of cotton garments to the world after it makes huge improvements in textiles and related technologies.

The latest report on “State of Food Insecurity in the World” mentions that about 842 million people (implying 1 in every 8 people in the world) suffered from chronic hunger in 2011-2013 (http://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/en/). One-third of such people live in India (http://www.bhookh.com/hunger_facts.php). The majority of these people live in the rural areas. The above figures are indicative of serious challenges to be met to increase production in agricultural sectors so as to enable increased income of rural poor. There is no doubt therefore that innovation in agricultural technologies requiring the use of new products and processes would play a key role in developing countries to face such challenges of food shortage.

Seeds are the most important contributors to agricultural productivities. The productivity of seeds is mainly contributed by the genetic makeup of plant cultivars/seeds (http://gandipsbio.com/Articles/Papers/12_GM%20Plants_Ind_Agri_1997.pdf). Use of modern biotechnology in agriculture to improve development of better seeds is certainly therefore one option in the hands of people to mitigate food shortage. The use of the tools of “modern biotechnology” provides insight for better understanding for the selection and multiplication of elite cultivars of varied types.

Use of plant tissue culture techniques for multiplication of clonal elites, followed by hardening of such elites in poly-houses and net houses has contributed to mass production of many plants of fruits and vegetables (http://nsdl.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/668/1/revised+introduction+to+plant+biotechnology.pdf; India has been commercially using plant tissue culture techniques for the last two decades after activities and facilities set up for mass multiplication of elite plants by techniques of plant tissue culture were classified by the Indian Government as an industrial activity. Using tissue culture-raised elite plants, extensive increase in production of banana was possible. Banana cultivation is carried out majorly by the small and medium-scale farmers, utilizing purchased elite planting materials produced in tissue culture facilities. Banana occupies a distinct place in the national as well as in the household economy of Indians. Nutritionally, banana is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Cultivation of banana has provided a cash-income security to poor banana-growing farmers because it provides almost continuous income flow throughout the year, even under low input regimes (http://www.apcoab.org/uploads/files/1298295339pub_banana.pdf).

By use of "molecular marker-assisted” selection and combining this technique with “plant tissue culture” it is possible to identify, isolate and propagate stress-tolerant and highly productive cultivars. Using these techniques, several new hybrids have been invented such as pearl millet (hybrid HHB67) (http://www.icrisat.org/journal/bioinformatics/v2i1/v2i1teamwork.pdf) and rice (Swarna-Sub1 paddy seeds) (http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/131122/srep03315/full/srep03315.html), which have contributed to increased production, benefitting a large number of small  and medium land holders too, while making a considerable contribution to the economy of the country as a whole.

But there is more to it. By the application of genetically modified (GM) technology, combined with plant tissue culture techniques and molecular marker-assisted selection, the scope becomes enormously enhanced. The GM technology, according to Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety (http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/publications/cartagena-protocol-en.pdf), is defined as the use of any “living modified organism” “that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology”. By utilizing the GM technology, combined with the other two techniques, new GM plant cultivars and novel GM seeds can be developed. Using these new materials, the output in agriculture is expected to leapfrogging in progress as the integrated technology would provide benefits in several aspects to tackle pests and diseases while concomitantly enabling the usage of best cultivars for applications. Mother Nature has provided the varied genetic pool in her creativities. Intelligent recombination can be made by human to develop better combinations to benefit human kind. GM technology as is understood and developed at the present time worldwide provides opportunities for such new recombination although much requires to be understood about the technology. However, the technique as is in the hands of human kind can be used partly by precise knowledge and partly by empirically developed techniques to generate better seeds and more productive cultivars. The technique nevertheless provides great strength and opportunity to human for inventing new seeds and new plant development.

By utilizing GM technology combined with plant tissue culture and molecular marker assisted selection several countries have gone ahead to produce better seeds of cotton, corn, canola, soybean, papaya, potato etc. and that some 29 counties worldwide are being benefitted (http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/43/executivesummary/default.asp). In India, only Bt cotton technology is being commercially used and certainly more can be done.

Unfortunately, the use of this technology package is dominated by debate in many parts of the world especially in Europe even though the concerns have not yet been founded as actual in practice anywhere in the environment or to human and animal health. In India, by the use of Bt-cotton technology which is a GM technology, the country has enormously been benefitted in every respect including increase in total production, productivities and qualities of cotton lint as also in improving the economic benefits of the small and medium farmers. This was possible by the commitments and support of the Central and the State governments as also by partnerships/collaborations among national and international seed companies. There are also support from a wide section of the vocal public. But while the regulatory approval for the use of other inputs for supporting increased production of cotton such as the use of germ-plasms of elite cotton varieties and hybrids, fertilizers, electricity and water were already in place and the concerned Central and the State Ministries and their agencies were fully supportive to meet the needs of the Indian cultivators, the regulatory approval for the use of Bt-cotton technology was most crucial. After extensive evaluation, this approval was accorded by the Central Government in March 2002. Thus supports came about from all arms of the government and thereafter the results were magnanimous. Without an all-round support from all quarters, the results of Bt-cotton technology would not have been fructified in India.

It is believed that this is also true for being benefitted from the application of GM technology to tackle various stressful conditions in all other crops including cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits and fibers. There is an urgent need to increase production and productivities in all such agricultural produce.

GM crops shall deliver products that are either cheaper or are nutritionally better or are more durable or can be grown is less friendly environment. GM crops can have multiple of such benefits.

But to a section of the vocal public, genetically modified crops technology is a controversy. This situation has to be changed by scientific reasoning, societal will and political desire if India wishes to address the food security and the broader economic issues of becoming more prosperous as a country.

The good news is that the National Committee on Bio-safety (NCB) in Bangladesh officially approved field release of four varieties of Bt-brinjal in October 2013 (http://cera-gmc.org/uploads/december_2013.pdf). Bangladesh became the first country in Asia to cultivate Bt-brinjal (egg plant), a product of a GM technology. The plants and their parts including the fruits of Bt-brinjal express Bt Cry1Ac protein and are therefore toxic to shoot borers, a destructive pest of the fruit. By cultivating Bt-brinjal, the yield of good qualities of eggplant is anticipated to substantially increase. It is expected that this announcement of Bangladesh will go a long way in enabling to adopt a whole range of GM technologies in many countries of the world and India would not remain an exception.

The Indian Public sector, which has contributed enormously to the developments in Indian agriculture, has contributed very little in GM–crops technology front. There is no dedicated Indian Public-Sector Institution for developing all aspects of GM–crops technology.

It is suggested that the new government, whoever may come, recognize the importance of GM technology and announce about setting up of a dedicated institution in the public sector, with a substantial outlay, to be spent over a period of years with detailed application-oriented programs to generate more basic understanding of GM-crop science and technology. The aim in one word should be to develop “better seeds” by application of modern biotechnology. Invention and innovations are the needs for the country in this very important area of agriculture.

The Befitting March!

The Befitting March!

Many years ago, I started my first earning debut. Being a refugee from the earlier East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and being quite young in age and born in an educated middle-class family, access to an honest way of earning was a primary focus. The kind of job was of lesser importance though parents preferred dignified jobs. When I was about fourteen, I stated to earn. I was considered more fortunate among the luckier ones as I started earning a bit early without compromising my basic education!

But because I started a bit early, I was exposed to the methods of earnings. My exposure provided me with profound experience with a bit of skills in several areas, which spanned from handling electrical gadgets to house-line repairing, assembling of small step-down transformers, fixing of faults in water connection lines, sourcing of cheaper house-hold materials, preparation of various simple house-hold chemicals like washing powder, cheap soaps and detergents, repairing of house-hold materials and the like. Private tuition and coaching was another passion of mine; as a consequence, as I grew up and moved up to my mid-twenties there were no dearth of jobs for me with some pocket money too! I studied and learnt the market considerably within my means and molded myself accordingly. In our days, Government jobs were lucrative and passing UPSC examinations were adequate for getting decently fixed somewhere. This is what I did later!


There is much less government jobs at the present time. Our time has undergone a sea-change. From the scenario of Public Sector piloting the economy the earlier days up to late eighties, the Private Sector has established its hold gradually and firmly, now has almost majorly taken over. Consequently, the jobs in the private market are much more these days. Government jobs have drastically shrunk.

Statistics from learned sources vouch for the arrival of fresh job-seekers in numbers of more than one million annually! They are all young in the productive age of twenties to thirties. Our country does not have annually, new jobs for so many at a time! For some years therefore, bulk of young people are waiting for their turns; some are picking up smaller jobs with lower pay packets and some others are getting under-paid!


Young individuals are holding low-paid jobs to help cover some of their incidental expenses. They are in the waiting for a better opportunity. Unfortunately, low-wage jobs are becoming a career for many young Indians as the right kinds of opportunities are not arriving. In the process the lower –wage occupations are growing much faster than the mid-wage or the high-wage occupations. Is this a good trend?


Skill development is of prime importance for making one competent for hiring. These days the spectra of skill development is diverse. But the scope of acquiring skills does not seem to be adequate. Young job-seekers are often not adequately trained in skills that facilitate their hiring for an earning.


In any country, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate provides a collective and combined measure of variation in value of the goods and services produced by its economy. GDP measures the value of total outputs in real terms or in inflation-adjusted terms in a year, which output must be the total value of people’s total expenditure to be incurred for buying the outputs. The GDP is calculated by three main techniques, which are based on measuring the output, or assessing the income or by calculating the total expenditure; by all these techniques the same figures are derived.

Indian economy is yet agriculture -based. Agriculture contributed to about 22.6% of the GDP in 2009-’10. The sector provides employment to nearly 56 % of the work force; employment in agriculture is however poorly paid. The service sector contributed to a hooping 63.4 %( including construction) of the GDP during 2009-’10 .This sector provides employment to nearly 25% of the work force. The industrial sector contributed to around 14% of the GDP; the sector provides employment to nearly 19%. The total work force is estimated to be over 500 million. Most remunerative salaries are in the Service and Industrial sector. Therefore, it needs to be explored if it would be possible to create conditions so that employees in Agriculture sector are also better paid.


Indian economy has manifested an average growth rate of more than 7% in the decade starting from 1997; unfortunately, the growth was predicted at 4.9% in 2012 by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) citing reasons of drought on one hand and the political gridlock on the other. IMF felt that unless better and more efficient ways and means are kept in place for boosting infrastructural investment especially in the energy sector and policy reforms in several sectors like taxes, subsidies and the like that contribute to boosting of investment and reduction in the supply bottlenecks , the annual GDP growth would not get picked up. This observation is certainly causing concern among the forward looking individuals and organizations.


The GDP growth over the years has been contributing to reduction in the poverty level of Indians to a considerable extent. Indian GDP at current prices was reported at 57412.38 billion Indian rupees in 2009, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF); this figure is anticipated to reach 120973.81 billion rupees in 2015. Yet in spite of considerable reduction in the quantum of poor people, there exists some 217 million Indians, who are malnourished and living in families with income below the poverty line. Indian population is estimated at 1240 million in mid 2012. The malnourished Indians constituting about 17.5% urges the need for taking greater and stronger corrective actions from multiple directions to minimize the quantum. Most malnourished poor people reside in villages. Employment in agriculture is their almost only option for a living.


If India becomes wealthier faster on a sustainable manner and if the income distribution is more even and rational, then much of the problems related to poverty and income-inequality would even up. The indicators for leveling up to attain at least up to some minimum standard would obviously include spread of education, availability of hygienic sanitation, intake of hygienic drinking water and balanced food by individuals, adequacy of health care needs for individuals , adequacy of clothing and availability of affordable hygienic shelter. It is obvious that it would take many years to achieve the goals; the aim should not in any way be misdirected nor should the efforts dither the planning process to achieve the set targets.


Decent jobs are created more in the industry and the service sectors. In organized sectors, benefits like provident fund, leave entitlement, medical facilities and insurance coverage are also provided to the work force. Indian Services sector include: financing, insurance, real estate, and business services (contributed to 16.7% of the GDP in 2009); trade, hotels and restaurants ( 16.3%) ; community, social, and personal services category( 14.4%) ; transport, storage, and communication ( 7.8 % ); and construction (8.2%).Major Indian industrial sector comprise of Textiles & Garments, Leather & Footwear, IT Hardware Software & Electronics, Capital Goods, Aerospace, Communication, Food Processing, Shipping, Drugs& Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, Steel, Cement, Mining, Petroleum, Transportation and a few more. All these sectors have highly organized industries; a sizable chunk comprises medium, small and tiny enterprises too. The ancillary industries and services also contribute significantly. While highly paid lucrative jobs are mainly in the organized sector, comparatively good and well-paid jobs are also created in the other sectors. The total potential for employment generation in these two sectors is about 40 - 44%. The rest would have to look for jobs in the agriculture sector!


Agriculture can provide more employment if the productivity is raised through induction of modern technologies. The agricultural produce being perishable and the cold storage facilities being limited and expensive the chances of the produce getting spoilt and wasted are more. There is considerable inadequacy in the infrastructure facilities like roads, rails, water-ways and air transportation; further, inappropriate and inadequate transportation facilities, inadequacy in the availability of electricity and other energy sources etc. add to the worries of the communities practicing the trade. Most of the individuals in the trade are poor with average income less than those employed in industry or in the service sector.


On the other side of the scenario, the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has recently estimated that the number of high-income households in India has exceeded the number of low-income and should have reached 46.7 million by March 2010, exceeding the 41 million households counted as low-incomes during the period. Individuals earning between Rs 45,000 and Rs 180,000 per annum, (at 2001-02 prices) rose sharply in the last decade to 135.9 million in 2007-08 and 140.7 million in 2009-10. The number of families having income between Rs 0.2 million and Rs 1 million per annum, which is close to the World Bank definition of middle class was 28.4 million by 2009-10. Such middle-class households were 4.5 million in 1995-96 and 10.7 million in 2001-02. Obviously, these are indicators about India becoming more prosperous. The Indian middle-class have more purchasing power than the poor Indians. Food produced by farmers can be purchased locally by these middle class people and consumption in these families would constitute a sizeable portion. This buying class can pay higher prices too.


The present Indian policy to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail shall boost procurement of agricultural produce from the farmers. This policy would allow flow of capital for investment and allow induction of better technologies. These two factors shall upgrade efficiency at multiple points, enabling the farmers to obtain better prices for their produce. It is also anticipated that several paying jobs shall be created and the actual producers will have more capital at their disposal thereby boosting their purchasing power. The rural sector will be substantially uplifted economically. The resistance to such a move by some sections of the citizens in certain pockets does not stand to score much as the arguments from such pockets that there would be loss of jobs does not stand the rigors of logic.


Good things can happen if the administrative set up and the societal structure accept changes that are natural outcome of liberalization. Without sizeable investment and induction of technology the efficiency of production cannot be raised beyond a limit. Technologies can enable quantum jump in the productivity. Technologies can be inducted only when there are adequate funds, no matter where the funds come from. If the governing and managing of funds and technologies are rationally made to attract induction of such inputs without belittling the sovereignty of the country through administrative procedures emerging from strong and stable governments, there is no reason to believe why such endeavor would not yield results of benefits. If however efforts of liberalization are prevented to bloom and if in the process the vital inputs of capital and technologies get blocked, the progress will certainly not be with the speed which is required for India to progress faster.


The government decision to induct FDI in multi-brand retail is anticipated to boost agricultural productivity. Further, it would empower the producers of agricultural commodities directly and thereby the farmers at all levels would be able to boost their average income. If this happens, more remunerative jobs would be created in Indian agriculture. This would eventually enable the agricultural output to contribute more to the economy in value terms besides enabling easing of income parity. Further, this would enable the generation of more skills among the agriculture workforce which would increase their prestige much higher. Reduction in income disparity and enhancement of individual skills are some of the vital manifestations of an intelligent and socially uplifted nation. FDI in multi-brand retail we thought, is a step in this direction.

Our sixty sixth independence day

Today is our Independence Day. The day is precious to us because we celebrate the meaning of ‘Swatantra’ today.  We have acquired independence or ‘Swatantrata’ in exercising, executing, effecting, accomplishing and implementing our freedom to get in to all kinds of creative endeavor whatever we wish to pursue. Creation is the basis for expressing new ideas emanating from within. Creation is the basis of foundation, invention, design, establishment and manufacture. In freedom and independence of individuals and our nation, lie the germs of developing technologies.


On the mid-night of August 14, 1947 our beloved leader Nehru in a part of his great speech to the nation said,’ At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom…..’ This was a great speech but factually what was mentioned was not correct:  the world was not sleeping; the entire west including USA was awake and was toiling for developing new technologies, new inventions and new discoveries! Asia might have been sleeping…..


Our emphasis on our freedom and independence have not have been adequate for new technologies, new inventions and new discoveries.


I have greatest esteem for those for whose work and sacrifice we got freedom and independence. I am also very proud that we have made phenomenal progress during the last 65 years after our independence and have created considerable wealth for our country. But the point is, ‘Are these adequate?’


Even today we know that we have the largest numbers of poor people in the world compared to any other country.


Two major indicators come to my mind the working on which shall  improve the  destination of our  nation : one, the income and wealth  distribution are not rational nor has the created wealth percolated among the people in a balanced manner ; and two , we have not put whole-hearted attention on developing appropriate technologies for our people.

I strongly believe that by emphasizing on the conceptualization, creation, nurturing, development and propagation of tiny and small industries in diverse sectors, we can greatly even up the income and wealth distribution disparities. This would require people-friendly policies created and propagated by the country, which would include political will, access to money, space, materials, skills, transportation, markets, competition and enforcement of law & order.


I also believe that the application of efficient technologies, which would provide us with opportunities for a quantum leap in all areas of our concern and activities, must be developed by our people for our use. Basic science is important; but  bogging down to basics without applications would cut down so much of our resources that we would  never have the chance to share the fruits of our understanding in our life time! Our science and technological institutions would have to contribute more in applications and application –oriented skills.


As a proud citizen of our great country, while celebrating our 66th independence day, I look forward to possibilities that take shape in evening up our wealth distribution through socially acceptable scientific methods by the application of country-developed novel and appropriate technologies. Jai Hind!

Molecular Diagnostics: Emerging Technologies

Molecular Diagnostics: Emerging Technologies

Human born from two haploid cells forming a zygote cell, divides up to 10 trillion cells in life-time. Each nucleated cell has 22 pairs plus either one pair of XY or XX chromosomes in the nucleus. Human genome is stored in 23 chromosome pairs and a small mitochondrial DNA. Haploid human genome occupies a total of over three billion DNA base pairs. Nearly 30,000 to 40,000 protein-coding genes each individual possesses. Humans also carry over 90 trillion microbes in the gut. Each human life is an orchestra of manifestation of events in an environment, emanating from own 10 trillion cells and carried 90 trillion microbes. Human possesses more DNA from environment than what it inherits and magnifies in its life process. In a physical environment, all the manifestations of health or diseases emanate from own and acquired cells, where expressions stem from the genes through transcription and translation, manifesting a wide range of properties through enzymes, diverse metabolites and other substances. All precise predictions reside in the understandings that emanate and spread from the DNA level.

The aim of effective molecular diagnostics is to find effective biomarkers. A biomarker is a molecule or a response of the cells/tissues/body, which can be objectively measured /evaluated as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses. In microbial diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases or diabetes or other chronic diseases a biomarker refers to a substance or a process that is indicative of the presence or dormant stage of the disease in the body. Genetic, epigenetic, proteomic and glycomic biomarkers can be used for diagnosis, prognosis and epidemiology. These markers can be assayed non-invasively from the collected biological fluids/ body fluids. Examples of genetic biomarkers are: BRCA1 for breast cancer, GDF15 for bladder cancer, Troponin I and CRP for cardio vascular diseases etc.

In molecular diagnostics, the aim is to measure polymorphism of SNPs, haplotype blocks, candidate genes (genes suspected to be involved in an expression), certain proteins and metabolytes as also the spectra of microbial genome in the gut. Information on and about polymorphism is to be generated, measured and correlated with health or disease status.

The key issues in the development hover around measurement of polymorphism, the speed of measurement and the instruments used. Worldwide floods of information are being generated and validated presently correlating with disease risks though new information on: SNPs, haplotype blocks, disease linked DNA/RNA sequences, candidate genes and allelies, novel proteins, novel metabolites, study of cell systems at a single cell level and study of human gut microbial genetics. Computational methods are being developed through robust cyber infrastructure. In all such studies, effective linkages are being established between environmental, dietary, and behavioral data-sets for eco-genetic analysis. High throughput measurements are being evolved to integrate phenotypes with genotypes and to enable application of personalized medicines. Breakthrough tests from the above techniques and analysis shall predict the present and future states of body and evolve suggestive /predictive care. Our expectations are that simple, doable and cost-effective diagnostic device should appear soon to serve human health better.

The main of molecular diagnostics is to predict and prevent diseases well in advance and to support more appropriate personalized medicines. In future, scenario of molecular diagnostics seems to appear like this: a patient would come for an examination to a physician; the physician will collect a sample of body fluid and subject the sample to genomic sequencing; the SNP and the haplotype pattern, for example shall be known where from the physician shall link the status with problems in the body of the patient through computational software programs, which are already prepared and available through a computer. The physician would therefore be able to suggest if the patient needs a medication or what should be done to prevent a disease that is going to appear soon or what additional test must be carried out to conclude about the ailment of the patient. In some cases, the physician may pick up blood samples or samples from the solid tumors and would find the extent of mutated cells in the body to have insight on whether the patient is going to get into the symptoms of certain chronic diseases. In many cases the sequencing data would enable the physician to correlate what medicine would be more suitable for the patient suffering from certain chronic diseases. Such would be the feat and power of molecular diagnostics!

Molecular diagnostics are gaining importance because of high speed of innovative research; discovery of more reliable advanced techniques and machines as well as better understanding of disease progression. People are also becoming more health conscious and as there is an increase in the middle class families, their abilities to pay are also increasing. This situation is also seen as an advantage by the manufacturers as the services are supposed to be more remunerative. The government policies are also supportive to the development as molecular diagnostics are eventually promising better health opportunities to the people.

The future of molecular diagnostics is therefore seen to proceed as under:

1. Knowledge about our body at DNA level would become more profound.

2. Correlations between individual genomic information with own microbial genomics information shall be stronger and methods would be available to make change in the microbial flora in individual gut.

3. Genetics and genome studies would become more personal for individual care, individualized therapy and individualized cure.

4. Genomics & Proteomics would hold the key for innovation in discovery of predictive biomarkers.

5. Every individual will have his/ her genome sequenced fully and would know distinct SNP patterns and haplotype blocks , empowering the physicians for decision making, for choosing more appropriate drugs in chronic diseases.

6. All validated molecular techniques shall lead to more patient empowerment.

7. In the coming years low cost, simple, non-invasive and predictive tests are going to take very important position in our lives and healthcare system.

GMO’s ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT IN INDIAN AGRICULTURE

When the Bt-cotton technology was authorized by the Indian Government for commercial cultivation in March 2002, it was thought that in years to come, newer genetically modified (GM) seeds and plant cultivars shall make profound positive impact in Indian agriculture. It was a strong and positive call for the country from its authoritative level. Immediately thereafter, there was a need for an action-plan from the government for upgrading its basic infrastructure for handling different kinds of GM seeds that were expected to emerge from research within the country or through imports or both. The central and the state governments were to plan and move together in the matter for obtaining and determining a fast success in the country in the use of GM plant technologies to benefit Indian agriculture.

Bt refers to a Gram-positive soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); Bt produce among others ,a kind of proteins named as ‘Cry’ proteins; these proteins are toxic to a wide range of caterpillars in their crawling stage of life-forms; when ingested, the caterpillars die. Bt-cotton is the man-made cotton plant where specific genetic materials coding for Bt –proteins have been stably integrated in to the genome of cotton plants by a technology, known as the recombinant DNA technology. By doing so, the Bt-cotton plants during their growth and survival produce among other substances, Bt- proteins too. Therefore, caterpillars feeding on any part of such cotton plant would die.

In order to derive benefits from the use of newer GM seeds and plant cultivars in a wide range of settings such as obtaining disease resistant cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables as also producing nutritionally enriched food ushered newer hopes .Through the use of recombinant DNA technology, the preservation of freshness of fruits and vegetables were also considered as doable possibilities. There was therefore a need to prepare the country for the accomplishments.

The action -plan included plans for actions for increased up- gradation abilities of the central and state-government institutions including those supported by the government as autonomous institutions as also the autonomous public sector facilities like the state and the central agricultural universities and institutions for assessing environmental and ecological safety issues linked with the use of GM seeds and cultivars. The food safety issues were also to be addressed and the national institutions dealing with food and nutritional safety had to be activated. It was amply understood that addressing the environmental, ecological and food safety issues were intimately linked with the societal acceptance of these new products both scientifically and emotionally. It was surmised that well-thought out protocols for large field studies of GM plants, animals, and microorganisms would be prepared ; the effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on flora and fauna would be thoroughly studied in the public sector settings and the data would be published for the benefit of the public; scientifically sound animal models would be developed for assessing the safety of food containing GM traits; a couple of model transgenic microorganisms would be developed for producing the transgenic proteins in large quantities so as to generate monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies in lab animals for easing quantitation of transgenic traits in target GMOs or non-target life forms, where transgenic traits might spill over. Further, national facilities would be set up for insect-rearing and for developing bioassays for quantitation of insect-lethal proteins. Also, analytical methods would be developed and standardized at the national level to trace transgenic traits in the open environment or in traded agricultural commodities or in the food products. Empowerment of the national system would enable the government to handle the rational development of GMOs within the country as well as to decide on importing such materials containing varied trans-genetic traits. Concomitantly, at the decision making level as well at the scientific institutions there was a profound need of having more numbers of scientifically trained people to address the diverse issues and complexities associated with the utilization of GMOs in commercial agriculture.

Every country makes progress with the passage of time. India must have also made considerable progress during the last 10y after the first authorization of GMOs (the lepidopteron insect-resistant cotton, popularly known as the Bt-cotton) in commercial agriculture in the country. Much of the capacity building traits as enumerated above may have been in place though there are no public access to those. The research towards achieving specific products of GM seeds to significantly enhance productivity in agriculture is also not visible yet. By the end of 2011, the Indian people have not heard about any new announcement about the introduction of any new transgenic trait in its open environment in agriculture other than a range of Bt-cotton. It is not clear therefore, to the common people if the use of the GMOs had been considered to be an important positive aspect for improving the productivity of Indian agriculture. There has not been any assertive statement from the authorities of the country if strong emphasis was placed on the use of this technology at least during the future years as one strong option, to address the emerging issues of food security.

None can belittle certain crucial facts that have come to light such as due to intense human activities and factors linked with increase in human population all over the world (demand for more energy for example for diverse reasons leading to increase in greenhouse gasses), there will be rise in the temperature across the world which shall lead to some visible catastrophe. There shall be rise in the sea-level, which would cause penetration of sea-water into many parts of fertile land. Ultra-violet light shall penetrate the ozone layer more in many parts of the world and shall show its deleterious effects in terms of reduced agricultural productivity in certain areas, and increase in certain diseases in human and animals.

On the other end, the world population is no longer natural. Science has provided a world that has contained major childhood diseases by the development and use of more than a dozen of improved vaccines. Improvement in medical science has contributed to increase in longevity which is manifested in far large number of aged, but active people all around. Thus while on one hand, more food has to be produced, on the other hand, salt and temperature-tolerant plant cultivars would have to be developed. There would also be the need for drought-tolerant seeds and plant materials in certain areas while at many other areas water-stress resistant plants would be in great need for utilizing water-logged or flooded lands for agriculture. Moreover, there would be profound need for the long-term preservation of natural food including crops, cereals, fruits and vegetables for longer times, preventing these from spoilage or delaying of ripening.

Seeds and planting materials for deployment in such conditions would not be developed without the use of recombinant DNA technology, where possibilities exist for isolating, reconstructing and integrating genetic traits in to plant cultivars that do not possess them. The resulting GM seeds and planting materials could be used in situations and in lands possessing adverse conditions. It would not be possible to develop seeds and planting materials suitable for such conditions, by any other method including the breeding technology.

Pest resistant or disease-tolerant or herbicide resistant plants have been the low-pick developmental needs of recombinant DNA technology, where success is already in place and GM plants are used in commercial agriculture in several parts of the world. The brighter sides of the deployment of GM plants thus far have been their contributions to reducing the use of chemical pesticides, reduction in the deployment of human labor (for herbicide resistant plants) thereby reducing agricultural production costs, and concomitant increase in agricultural productivities, often due to longer periods of sound plant health, especially during their productive periods. GM plants have also been used for producing better qualities of carbohydrates and triglycerides and some other traits. While some of these achievements have been downplayed by local public, the use of GMOs could not be stopped because of overall economic benefits, which accrued to the farmers and to the society.

The main objections from the vocal public against the use of GM seeds and planting materials have been that (1) these substances enhance the spread of different kinds of nucleic acids and genetic materials across a wide range of genera and species that do not naturally possess them , such spread in ‘unnatural’ and therefore, such happenings could be catastrophic and must be avoided; (2) some of these trans-genetic materials code for toxic proteins that, when ingested by other living forms can create catastrophes by manifestation of toxicity or allergenicity; in smaller life forms , toxicities could kill or adversely affect population and thus could disturb the ecology of the environment; in higher life forms like in animals toxicities could limit the food chain; (3) food , feed and fodder toxicity or allergenicity could adversely affect the human and animal food chain; (4) the long-term effect of trans-genes opens up the possibilities of transfer of unwanted traits across the natural boundaries of species barriers; (5) since the technologies are held presently by a hand-full of private companies, the food security issues will have to be transferred to the whims of a few technology-rich private companies. Transfer genetic materials across the species barriers takes place naturally, even though the spread is very slow. ‘Unnatural’ transfers across the barriers have to have the capacity to survive; in most of the times, ‘unnatural’ genetic transfers are aborted, or the generated ‘new substance’ self-destroys it. Only a few trans-genetic constructs, the fittest ones, created by human kind survive. Such created clones are to be continuously multiplied and propagated to keep the genetic traits ‘alive’. In natural settings, most often the trans-genetic traits get aborted. Even in situations where such traits have escaped to the environment, these have not manifested with any situation that cannot be handled by human kind. The stories of ‘super weed’ formation or ‘genetic contamination resulting in catastrophe’ are exaggerated. All trans-genetic substances are tested for safety on a precautionary principle before these are released by any country for commercial use; unsafe substances are never released. All risks are assessed rigorously by scientifically deployed methods. Unfortunately, the present day science cannot find answers to certain questions of safety such as the long term use of GMOs. However for this uncertainty, a close watch is kept on the use of each GMO; any substantial adversity shall call for its withdrawal. Some people think that it would not be possible to withdraw substances, once these are set out to the open environment. This fear is untenable as GMOs that are linked with irreversible damage ( such as growth hormone gene containing fish that have high feed conversion ratio but are known to have lower longevity than the natural counterpart)) are not allowed by the governments to be propagated in the open environment. Unintended release is expected to be contained by nature as the law of survival for the fittest would eventually prevail; humankind might not have precise clues for such happenings though. Use of GMOs more extensively shall enable the development of newer technologies that will diffuse the presently surmised monopolistic situation. Introduction of Bt-otton in India resulted in the development and introduction of more than one alternate technology, which were different from Monsanto’s Bollgard cotton. Necessities drove the development of alternatives! There is a strong case therefore, for the faster use of the GMO technology across the world and in poor countries like India. Introduction of any new technology carries with it several kinds of risks; people using those technologies would learn to live with the risks. People would also learn to contain them.

People from the developing world spend a large sum of their income on food. In extremely poor settings, such expenses can go even up to 70% of their income. This situation cannot be adequately appreciated by people from the developed world where expenses on food are minor part of their earnings. Choice of better food materials that are grown without the use of pesticides, or which are natural, or which are grown organically are options no doubt. But these options are more suiting to the needs of the rich and the rich nations. Any reduction in the price of safe food resulting from the deployment of better technologies is a much needed option of the poor nations. Use of genetically modified seeds or planting materials, resulting in higher productivities directly or indirectly, is therefore an option for reducing the cost of food. Countries are free to make their individual food choices. But such choices should not be influenced by emotional reasoning or pre-emptive threats of risks that have neither been proven nor detected.

We do not and cannot live in a ‘natural world’ anymore! The food that is produced is primarily from our agriculture. Our agriculture utilizes seeds and planting materials that have been developed over many years of research, utilizing different kinds of technologies. Our seeds and planting materials cannot even survive in pure natural settings; those that would survive would not yield productivities without the inputs of fertilizer, water, pesticides and many more. For that matter, even we are not natural anymore. Food, shelter, medicines, hygiene, clothing, education and social environment have radically changed with the deployment of different kinds of technologies the world-over. In such a setting, we cannot ignore the potentials of GM seeds and plant cultivars merely on the basis of voices that do not find comforts from their deployment.

In such a setting, what has been done within the country for intensively utilizing the GMOs in Indian agriculture? A visit at web page at www.igmoris.nic.in provides a glimpse of the status of Indian development in GM plant applications in agriculture including those in the developmental stage. The scenario depicts a weak standing of preparedness at the national level. This also portrays substantial weakness in the scientific and technological developments of GMOs in the public sector settings in the country. Moreover, the preparedness of the country to exhaustively examine the benefits or the short-comings including risks are not adequately elaborated. Should we therefore, redesign our strategy?