The Federal Government says it will open a Help-line Centre and Transparent Communication to the public to provide clear and accurate information about the science behind Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari said the centre would encapsulate GMO benefits and regulatory processes put in place to safeguard public health.
Kyari revealed this at the on-going International Conference of the Nigerian Plant Breeders Association (NPBA) on Thursday in Abuja.
The event is with the theme, “Revolutionising Agriculture through the Integration of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology.”
He said the gesture would effectively address the concerns and promote public acceptance of GMOs.
Kyari explained that the ministry through the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) and various mandate Research Institutes is tasked with the development of novel crop varieties for teaming farmers.
The minister, who cited the development of Bt cowpea that produced its own insecticide emphasised that it shown significant yield increases and reduced the need for chemical pesticides.
He added that the varieties lead to environmental benefits and increased profits and livelihoods of cowpea farmers.
“Over the years, important stakeholders and other partners like the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Africa Rice and other research institutions have played a prominent role in the research or development of new crop varieties in Nigeria.
“National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) has utilised tissue culture techniques to produce disease-free banana planting materials which enabled the rapid multiplication of high-yielding banana varieties, ensuring a consistent supply of planting materials.
“This has contributed to increased banana production and improved export opportunities.
“Genetically engineered cotton by the Cotton Research Institute (CRI) has reduced the reliance on chemical pesticides, leading to environmental benefits and improved cotton quality.
“These varieties have also increased cotton yields, contributing to the growth of the Nigerian cotton industry,” he said.
Kyari said the recently released Tela maize developed through the collaborative effort of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) and IITA was specifically designed to be resistant to the devastating effects of FAW.
“Tela maize incorporates genetic traits that confer resistance to FAW, thus reducing crop damage and increasing yields, making it a valuable option for farmers.
“As good as this milestone achievements are, government is also mindful in trying to address public concerns about GMO programmes in Nigeria which are rooted in misconceptions and misinformation,” he said.
Kyari said plant breeding has played a fundamental role in the transformation of crop production at every turn of human civilisation.
He said through plant breeding new varieties are produced that are capable of adapting to ever-changing production systems and ecologies.
“Modern biotechnology is also taking a prominent role in the processes for the development of new crop varieties as well as germplasm conservation.
“This technology reduces the timeframe for a successful breeding cycle and also increase the precision of the breeding processes,”he said.
NAN
