There is need for GMO seeds investment, says OFAB Coordinator

As part of efforts to ensure that more farmers get access to approved genetically modified seeds, the country coordinator, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Dr Rose Gidado has called for more investment in the multiplications of already released varietal seeds to meet the high demand from farmers in Nigeria.

Dr. Rose Gidado made this call during a sensitization workshop on biosafety and biotechnology for extension agents and farmers from the North central zone of the country.

Gidado said in view of 50 % GMO seeds adoption by farmers, there is need for increased investment that will enhance more accessibility of improved  Biotechnology seeds to farmers in both dry and wet seasons, adding there is need to unbundle the application of the new technology for national economic growth in food security.

Gidado observed that developed nations of the world took advantage of  biotechnology provision to enhance their economies in terms of food security.

“The need for safe biotechnology application, especially in agriculture towards achieving the set objectives of improving productivity, quality of food crops and income of farmers" said Dr. Gidado.

The Director-General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Abdulahi Mustapha, who gave a lecture on how genetic modification is done, said the training would boost farmers’ understanding of the technology, and give more subsequent acceptance and usage.

Professor Mustapha explained that “To enlighten them is very necessary and important. When you enlighten the end users of the crop, it means they can pass the knowledge on to others and explain to them what the crop is all about.

“And if anyone comes to them with distorted information about the crop, they can easily dismiss it. So that is the reason why we came here to enlighten the farmers, the extension workers and the stakeholders in the agriculture sector"

Also, the Director-General of the National Biosafety Management of Nigeria (NBMA), Dr. Rufus Ebegba assured Nigerians that genetically modified crops are safe, adding that his agency would not allow anything that is harmful and unsafe into the country.

A participant, Mr. Samson Anawo from the Federal Capital Agriculture Development Program said for an extension worker like himself, the training is coming at the right time as it would boost his knowledge of what to pass on to farmers.