NABDA promises more GMO items for Nigeria

·         *Budget planning to support

Group Picture during the end of year media party organised to journalists

The Acting Director General (DG), National Agricultural Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA)  Prof. Alex  Akpo  has said that more Genetically Modified (GM) Crops with bio fertilizers and pesticides  are expected to be produced in Nigeria against next year  just as he added the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning is ready to give support to the plan. He stated this during the end of year media party organised to journalists.

Professor Akpa hinted that the NABDA had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bio-crops to massively expand biotechnologically modified crops that would withstand vagaries of climate change with the view of increasing the agricultural performance to commercial activities towards economic diversification to more revenue generation and job creations.    

 

Among the expected crops to be genetically modified are yam, cassava, banana, plantain and all others inputs  that would help increase the GDP of the country especially on agriculture, added that the Federal Ministry of  Budget and National Planning has expressed interest to  support  the project having been convinced of its economic importance.

He stated that among other items Nigeria farmers should look forward to seeing in 2019 would be the release of Bio-fertilizer, Bio-pesticide and Nematicides to better inputs application for higher yield to meet with the needs of farmers.

The DG further said that with the achievement made during the release of two BT Cottons added that BT Cowpea would soon be presented for commercialization after seven years field trail through the appropriate regulatory body.