As the need arises for the adoption of technology for increased plant yield and achievement of self sufficiency in food production in Nigeria, stakeholders in the seed subsector met in Abuja for sensitisation on the developments surrounding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
The meeting which brought together seed companies, seed regulatory body, biotechnology regulatory body and scientists, became necessary following the plans by scientists to release BT Cotton and BT Cowpea by next year to farmers which have been genetically engineered.
The sensitisation workshop was organised by the African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF), Open Forum on Agriculture Biotechnology (OFAB), National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and others.
Speaking during the programme, the Director General National Agriculture Seed Council (NASC), Dr Phillip Ojo, said the workshop was necessary to educate stakeholders on the advancement in agriculture which bothers on seeds.
According to him “This meeting is very important for us as a country; it is a meeting that focuses on educating stakeholders on recent developments and technological advancements in agriculture particularly as it relates to biotechnology and GMOs.
“The agriculture industry has traditionally been supportive of technological advancement, particularly in the field of genetic traits of seeds in the search for particularly robust varieties through conventional planting breeding.
“Breeding has however evolved to engaging in genetic modification of crop varieties through Non-Conventional methods resulting to the production of genetically modified (GM) seeds.
“GM seeds are seeds that have been modified to contain specific characteristics such as resistance to herbicide or resistance to pest”.
He however said the Council will not relent in its constitutional responsibilities of coordinating and regulation of Seed activities in the country, whether produced using conventional or non-conventional methods.
His words: “For us as the Seed Council, our responsibility is the coordination and regulation of all Seed activities whether developed using conventional or non- conventional means.
“This huge responsibility requires us to be on top of all developments regarding Seed production and I want to therefore use this opportunity to call for stronger partnership, synergy and collaboration between the NASC and all those engaged in GM development in the country.
“This partnership, synergy and collaboration are required in the areas of monitoring, human, institutional and infrastructural capacity Development and as well as in private sector and farmer buy in”.
During an interview, the Country Coordinator of Open Forum in Agricultural Biotechnology ( OFAB), Dr Rose Gidado said the workshop will build the capacities of the Seed companies.
She further said the workshop was also to let the Seed companies know of the new technology and be able to key in, produce the seed, domesticate its and sell to farmers, instead of allowing foreign seed companies to monopolize the market.
“The essence of this meeting is actually to bring on board the Seed companies in Nigeria to build their capacity and as well strengthen their capacity because some of them already are being involved with us and so because we are matching towards commercializing Genetically Modified crops in Nigeria, and very soon, I think next year, BT Cowpea and BT Cotton should be ready for commercialization.
“So we want the seed companies in Nigeria to be to involved, to be in charge of this, so that our own farmers will have access to these seeds and so there won’t be monopoly of the seeds by any international companies as it has always been preempted by the opposition group.
“Some farmers are already aware that the GM seeds will be released next year, because, presently, the BT cotton and BT Cowpea are being managed by farmers, we have farmers’ managed trials going on right now in the country, for the cotton, I think it is about 10 states in Nigeria that is farmer managed, then for Cowpea, we have about 3 states are involved, Zamfara, Kano and Kaduna state”, Dr Gidado added.
Delivering his keynote lecture, Prof Muhammad Ishiyaku, Principal Investigator PBR Cowpea Institute of Agricultural Research, (IAR) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, encouraged farmers to embrace the technology following change in addressing challenges faced in food production, and for them to know the demand of the market and have reasonable level of stewardship.
Professor Ishiyaku further added that once the GM seeds are deregulated, it would not be different from the conventional seeds.
Speaking also the Director General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Dr Rufus Ebegba, assured farmers and Nigerians that the agency will ensure that that the products of genetically modified products (GMOs) are safe to Nigerians and the environment.
Ebegba said Nigerians were being misinformed with wrong messages passed across to them about GMOs, through various channels, including some self acclaimed scientists, therefore have made some government officials to be confused.
In his remarks, the President of Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN), Mr Richard Olafare said the Seed companies needed to be carried along by the NASC to update them n the position of government on GMOs.
“We all know that from the four domain of biotechnology enumerated, it is Agric-biotech that is most controversial; while the main output of this are GM seeds.
“But in as much as all traded seeds are products of research and we have been coping with them, GM seeds will only challenge our increased sensitivity to prompt taking note of unusual observations on the Seed fields and instant reporting to the appropriate institution.
“Without prejudice to any mandate or activities of any institution, it is obvious that lack of capacity by our public institutions to domesticate technology to suit local needs remains the bane and retards our national development.
“Ideally, it is expected of the NASC to intimate the Seed companies on every government position as restated to agriculture, policy changes and innovations so that our participation and involvement can be well mapped out”, Olafare noted.
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