Report on On-Farm Trial of GMO rice hazy

GMO

Contrary to the impression created by a social media report that on-farm trials on  Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) rice was going on at the National Cereals Institute (NCRI) Baddegi, Niger State, it has been found that the situation remains unclear although the technology has been reportedly cautiously accepted by the scientists who see the technology as a means to feed the fast-growing  Nigerian population which is already hitting over 200million.

When FoodFarmNews visited the  Institute, a source disclosed that African countries such as South Africa and Kenya have adopted the technology, but that due to the newness of the technology it was yet to be embraced by the farmers who have a negative belief of the technology. 

the source added that the GMO facility was gradually undergoing development adding that for further information as regards job done so far on the trial farm and the completion and the rollout of GMO product after the completion of the fertility only the collaborative body could give more sophisticated information.

 He noted that the NCRI, Badeggi, Niger state has just taken the mandate to work on the GMO trial farm in collaboration with other undisclosed research agency and institute.

Meanwhile, the director of the Ibadan -based National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Dr Sunday Alalade  has said that there is no GMO seed on the register and there was none in circulation.