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Scientists, farmers, media and civil society at a recently held science journalists hangout in Abuja have supported adoption of biotechnology (Bt) to galvanize our agricultural commercialization for better earnings and job creations against our rising population.
The lead speaker, Director General(DG), National Bio-safety Management Agency (NBMA) Dr. Rufus Ebegba who allayed fears being expressed against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) as unfounded, pointed that all approved Bt seeds had been scientifically proved to be safe for food security, and a means to create more jobs against crime rate.
The NBMA boss pointed that application and adoption of Bt in the development of economic diversification in Agriculture would increase employment creation for our youths, saying the innovations can be used to preserve food crops like yam and others to retain freshness.
Also, the Nigeria Country Coordinator, OFAB, Dr. Rose Gidado in her remark said that Nigeria is presently leading in the GM adoptions in Africa, saying there is plan to soon overtake countries like China.
She pointed that her agency has done well by ensuring that Nigeria increases her food production to meet with the rising population of the country through the use of Bt seeds in cotton and cowpea, adding that with effective application of her agency's mandate, the country will be food competitive in the use of crops that are drought and diseases resistant.
Dr. Gidado stressed that people who are opposed to the technology had no sufficient knowledge about Bt importance towards economic development, thereby advocating for more sensitization, and training with an applause to the All Alliance for Science, the Nigeria Chapter as regards information dessemination.
The Citizens' Advocacy for Social & Economic Right ( CASER) boss, barrister Frank Tietie noted that Nigeria is taking too long in the adoption of biotechnology innovations going by the numbers of people that are daily going on hunger cum the need to ensure food security in hard time like we experienced during COVID 19 in 2020.
He advocated the need for GMO adoption so as to prevent food insecurity in the near future, pointing to the need to start trusting our institutions for more progress to be made in the use of science technologies in food productivity.
Frank said that for the fact that we have trusted sciences everywhere, we also had to start trusting science of biotechnology when it comes to food production in order to enjoy the benefit of science to the fullest.
Speaking from the farmers' perspective, Chief Daniel Okafor, Vice President, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) expressed the need for sensitization of the GMOs seeds as farmers are in dear need of them to upscale their commercial productions, saying the awareness tempo must not be relented.
From the media, the Publisher, Food Farm News Mr. Ayeni Oladehinde also lent his voice to advise journalists on the need to be better informed on the reportage of science related improved agricultural technologies like GM seeds to improve food productivity in view of growing population towards food security.
According to Mr. Ayeni ". The GM technology in terms of seeds is part of the ways to do well in our agricultural revolution in Nigeria and Africa. We don’t have option than to look for science technology to enhance our economic growth’'
Ayeni added that the media has various medium to spread the news as regards improved technologies, and relevant agencies need to take this into consideration.
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