The controversial Dhara mustard hybrid (DMH-11), India’s first government-approved genetically modified (GM) food, may miss the 2023-24 season as its field trial is likely to take place as the Supreme Court is yet to say. yes or not try as the normal mustard planting window closes around November 15th. The Supreme Court has not been able to hear the case in recent sessions, including November 7, and the next date has yet to be decided. Although the issue may be discussed in the Supreme Court next week, it is not clear whether there will be a seeding order. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, as of November 10, the area under mustard cultivation reached 57.16 thousand hectares (lh), slightly higher than a year ago when it was 56.87 lh. Almost 80 percent of the sowing of the normal area (the average of the last five years) has already been done and more than 90 percent of the area will be covered by November 21, the expert said and added when to plant.
Agricultural scientists are in the dark because the matter is before the Supreme Court. But under the condition that they not be cited, many expressed concern about the limitation of the judicial process. “The experiment should be allowed, although not a commercial release, because it expands the research field,” said the former head of Oilseeds.
According to the test results, the DMH 11-hectare yield is about 26 cents and the oil content is 40 percent. At the same time, it weighs about 3.5 grams per 1000 seeds, which is less than the standard of 4.5 grams to declare a hybrid seed variety. Experts said the lesser weight of mustard seeds leads to yield loss while mechanical harvesting and manual harvesting are reduced due to labor issues.