NABDA intensifies campaign on safety of GM crops

A cowpea plantation

THE National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has continued its campaign to sensitise the populace on the safety and importance of Genetically Modified (GM) crops.

Just recently, senior editors from the major newspapers visited the NABDA Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) beans farm at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

NABDA having identified the editors as partners in sensitising the public on the importance of GM crops, allowed them to have a first-hand experience of the transgenic crop on the farm.

Nigeria has since commercialised the OBR beans and farmers are already planting the crop with testimonies of its resilience on the field.

This beans variety has the capacity to resist the attack from Pod Borer insect while increasing its yield to surpass that of the conventional beans variety. The PBR beans also has an advantage of early maturing compared to the conventional variety.

Also recently, NABDA organised a Biotechnology and Biosafety Sensitization Workshop for Senior Editors in Abuja.

The Director General of the Agency, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha informed the editors that there are testimonies already from Nigerian farmers on the benefits of genetically modified crops.

Mustapha said farmers in Nigeria are maximising the potential of genetically modified crops which where they have reduced the spray of chemicals to control insects on their beans farm from ten sprays to two sprays.

“Already, we have testimonies from farmers across the country who are benefiting from products of modern biotechnology in the country such as the pod borer resistant cowpea which is helping farmers overcome the devastating impacts of marcuca vitrata that causes 80 percent destruction on the farmers’ field.

“Today, our farmers are applying only 2 insecticide sprays as against 8 to 10 sprays previously as a result of planting the PBR Cowpea.

“Our farmers are also planting Bt. Cotton, another innovative product from modern biotechnology that is changing the game in cotton farming and the hope of the textile industry revival is on course”, Professor Mustapha said.

NABDA’s current engagement of the media in technical trainings and workshops has been adjudged as an effective way of gaining the trust of the populace in the safety of GM crops.

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