The Nigerian government has officially launched the genetically modified, high-yielding maize varieties in the country against the resistance of farmers who prefer planting their own seeds. The use of genetically modified (GM) maize was initiated by the government on June 18, where Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture, insisted it will help Nigeria in its quest for food security. Proponents of genetically modified foods say the TELA maize would bridge Nigeria’s annual maize production deficit as the variety is designed to resist major maize pests, stem borers and fall army worm, as well as survive in drought conditions. Rabiu Adamu, a professor and the principal investigator for the TELA maize project said with the increasing demand for maize in the country, there is need to have modern varieties of maize that can be produced with higher productivity per unit area.
According to Adamu, if crops are attacked by stem borers, farmers spend heavily on harmful pesticides to manage these pests, and it’s harmful to the environment, adding that advent of TELA maize cuts the use of pesticides and, in essence, the cost of production. On embracing technology, he said; “Nigeria’s population is expected to double in the next 25 years, and with arable land hugely depleted, farmers need to have improved cultivars, or plants made through selective breeding, and technology that can enable them to produce higher yields.” He said South Africa, which had already embraced genetically modified maize, now produces 90 bags of the crop per hectare, compared to Nigeria’s 30 bags for the same size of land.
Philip Jakpor, Executive Director, Renevlyn Development Initiative, based in Port Harcourt, which challenges corporate impunity and unsound environmental practices said successive governments in the country continue to ignore the precautionary principle in their engagement with foreign research organisations concerning the deployment and use of experiments in the food systems that target Africa particularly. He said the decision to initiate the use of TELA maize in the face of public outcry against GM foods is indicative of a culture of impunity that pervades governance in Nigeria.
“The question is: Why are the countries in Africa that have great agriculture potentials their target?” He queried. TELA maize, which was released commercially last January, is an insect-resistant, drought-tolerant variety of the crop. According to reports, Nigeria commercialised its first genetically modified crop, the pest-resistant Bt Cotton, in 2018 as a means to revitalise its moribund textile industry and boost economic development. Since then, the country has approved the commercial use of genetically modified cowpea and maize.
