Chief Audu Ogbeh at the National Farms' Helpline Centre at NAERLS |
·
Trial farms is
approval to safety
The unending trade politics between America and Europe on this new
improved technology is giving more skepticism into the acceptance of GMOs
especially in Africa continent and other parts of the world that requires of
sufficient science explanation and proof.
Chief Ogbeh has humbled himself before scientists and researchers from
IAR, NAPRI, NAERLs and DAC of ABU, Zaria by asking for their expert advice on
the popular debate on GMO wanting to know whether the country should embrace
and adopt the technologies for use in Nigeria adding he had received many
petition along this line.
According to the Minister “Let me raise one final issue. The debate on
GMO has been greeted with skepticism especially in Europe, it is seen with
suspicious and here in Africa. Now between the reality of science and the
anxiety of sentiment, you the academicians must tell us which one is safe and
which does not safe.
This is because I received queries and petitions, and I am
not a scientist, I am just a farmer. I cannot answer the question they asked.
Is GMO safe? Should we suspect it, should we embrace it, should we engage it?
Is there a ploy by those who engineer it to take over the seed business
worldwide? Does it threat our business activities? I like someday when you are
having your retreat conference to please discuss this matter. What do lay man
do with GMOs? Should we allow genetically modified crops into this country
ether for use or as planting materials? Please help us out. I cannot answer the
question because whatever I say will not be driven by scientific knowledge, and
I don’t have it. But I am interested in knowing and I am inviting you to help
me.
Prof. Candidus Echekwu |
Meanwhile Prof. Candidus Echekwu, a scientist expert on cotton and
groundnuts has said his committee on National Naming Registration and Release
had visited the Bt cotton trail farms across the states in the country pointed
the technology has been tested for environmental safety by the appropriate
agency.
Speaking to Food Farm News in
his office at IAR, Prof. Echekwu said the essence of his committee’s visit was
to ascertain that the on farm trails actually took place and that farmers were
involved, but he did not want to comment on the outcome of the visit since the
process was still on going before nomination.
Talking on the safety of the technology he pointed that the Bio Safety
Agency had certified the safety of the material to our ecosystem pointed it was
on the basis of this that the on farm trails were allowed for evaluation.
“we are still expecting the nomination of the bt cotton, but it is part
of the requirement as a committee to see that the on farm trails actually take
place with farmers’ participation. That is the rule before nomination can take
place before our National committee for registration and release for
commercialization” said Prof. Echekwu.
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