Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi has said that genetically modified organism (GMO) products are embarked upon to solve farmers’ problems.
The Minister said the march towards food sufficiency required huge investments in GMO by the Federal government on Nigerian scientists.
According to him, this is imperative for Nigeria to be able to meet her various agricultural challenges, particularly in the area of increased production of crops.
Aliyu said this Monday while fielding questions on Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily.
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He argued that modification of crops is targeted at attaining a desired trait of a variety for improved production in other varieties.
“If you take a variety that is resistant to pests, there is a code that it has, you take that code to a variety of high production and you merge the two together, you come out with a variety that has been genetically modified.
“That modification is to the extent of inserting the trait on the new one you are trying to have to provide resistance to a particular pest or diseases that is how GMO are done.”
Aliyu said the nation has to focus on investing in GMO so that the country can boost its own farm produce.
“If the right steps are followed and if it is done by our own scientists, the fear of certain things being added is out of it.
“Again if you look at the potentials sincerely speaking we just have to spend more money for our scientists to do this thing,” the minister of Agriculture told Nigerians.
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