Agriculture
Director Allays Fears On Infected Crops
The Director, Agric Biotechnology and Bio-resources, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Dr Andrew Keswet has advised that the virus Gene VI, found in 54 Genetically Modified (GM) crops, should not cause panic among Nigerians.
Dr Keswet said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos recently.
The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), recently raised safety concerns about Genetically Modified crops, after an independent research uncovered a toxic virus gene, called Gene VI, in 54 of the 86 approved for commercial growing in the US.
The study, conducted by the EU, showed that standard tests for GM foods might have missed a gene potentially poisonous to humans.
The EFSA researchers concluded that the presence of segments of Gene VI “might result in unintended phenotypic changes”.
A phenotypic change, the reports said, include changes that could cause the creation of proteins toxic to humans or cause changes in plants that could make them vulnerable to pests, which they were recreated to be protected from.
Kewswet said the EU discovery, which has made experts to call for a review of regulations for conducting standard tests for GM crops, did not invalidate Nigeria’s Bio-Safety Bill drafted before the finding in 2013.
“If you have seen our Bio-Safety Bill, you will find out that all the concerns being raised have been taken care of, and so, there will be no need reviewing it.
“Nigerian Scientists will not put Nigerians into any bad situation. We will do our best and make sure that whatever we are giving to the public stands the test of time.
“Be rest assured that what we are doing in biotechnology is the best for our people, and we will only follow internationally approved procedures,” he said.
The Director said that some people were apprehensive of GM products because they did not understand that in one way or the other, they might have consumed a GM product, such as GM wheat, corn and soya, in one form or another.
He said that the discovery of the virus gene did not mean that GM food were unhealthy for human consumption.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.