‘TELA Maize To Be Released In 2024’

The  Director General of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof Abdullahi, has said genetically modified maize, known as TELA maize, will be commercially released by National Variety Release Committee in 2024.
Mustapha, who disclosed this at a media parley in Abuja recently, said TELA maize is a huge project that would boost food productivity in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency on food security.
The Director-General said great research progress had been recorded towards the commercialisation of the TELA maize project.
He said Nigeria was facing immense food security challenges as the population was already gearing to over 400 million by 2030.
“Our farmers need all scientific and technological tools available to increase crop yields, resilience and nutrition on existing farmlands. Biotechnology has already shown its potential with benefits demonstrated across 30 countries and for farmers big and small”, he said.
He said testimonies existed from farmers across the country that were benefitting from products of modern agricultural biotechnology.
According to him, the Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea which was helping farmers to overcome the devastating insect pest, Maruca Vitrata that caused 80 per cent destruction on farmers field.
The NABDA Director General revealed that the achievements were made possible through the over 14- year partnership with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Agricultural Research Council and Bayer Agriculture Nigeria Plc.
He further noted that the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), a creation of the AATF, is fast-tracking President Tinubu’s food security agenda.
He said the effective agricultural biotechnology advocacy campaign championed by OFAB Nigeria had significant and positive impacts on the nation in various ways.
Mustapha listed the impacts as increased farmer awareness and adoption of biotech crops and promotion of productive policy reforms.