While experts in the agricultural sector on one hand lauded the Federal Government for approving the evaluation and open cultivation of the new Tela maize variety, some activists have, on the other hand, flayed the development.
The Tela maize variety developed by researchers at the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, is genetically modified and is said to be pest resistant and tolerates moderate drought.
The announcement of the approval was contained in a statement on October 10, 2021 and signed by Mr Alex Abutu, Communication Officer, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) West and Central Africa and Mr Yakubu Dodo, Information Officer, IAR, Zaria.
Some of the experts who spoke on Tuesday, October 12 in Ibadan said that the approval was a welcome development towards ensuring food security in Nigeria.
Dr Festus Olasupo, a Plant Geneticist at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan, hailed government’s approval of the variety saying that maize production was critical to food security in the country.
He noted that maize was one of the most important crops used as food for human, livestock and by industries in Nigeria.
“There should be no issue on this since the process has gone through necessary scientific procedures before the approval was given by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).
“This will have positive effects on farmers, we know that great losses are incurred by maize farmers every year due to devastating effects of armyworm infestation and prolonged drought brought about by climate change.
“If this new variety is adopted by farmers, it will increase maize yield on the farm, boost farmers’ income / livelihood and improve market economy along the maize value chain,” he said.
On ways to improve maize production, Olasupo advised the government and stakeholders to provide adequate funding for research, especially breeding research.
According to him, crop varietal development is capital intensive.
“In addition, our farmers need support and encouragements in terms of farm input supply, low interest loan and well organised uptake of their products,” he said.
Also, a Geneticist and Molecular Biologist at the University of Lagos, Dr Bayo Ogunkanmi, said the Tela maize release was a welcome development.
“Before government releases any Genetically Modified crop to the public, it must have gone through biosafety regulation and certified safe for consumption and with no adverse effect on the environment.
“Farmers will find it profitable in terms of yield, productivity, and resistant to biotic/ abiotic stresses.
“It has no negative effect on farmers at all, agric extension agents must have conducted farmers participatory approach to seek farmers’ interest, choice and preference on a particular crop.
“The government cannot just introduce such a variety without testing it on secluded field trial to see the impact before introducing to farmers,” he said.
The geneticist urged the government to imbibe farm settlement approach and make the settlement conducive for living, in terms of social amenities that would encourage young school leavers to settle for agriculture.
“There is need to encourage farmers in terms of free farm inputs, farm implements and ready farmers market.
“Interest free loan, distribution of pest/ drought resistant crops variety to farmers, subsidised price of fertiliser and accessible farmers’ market will surely encourage farmers,” he said.
Mr Olawale Ajani, the Oyo State Chairman of Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN), said the maize variety would lead to more yield, thereby increasing food production and enhance farmers’ incomes as well as livelihood.
“This is a good news as one of the headaches of maize farmers is the attack of insects and damaging stern borers which usually occur when there is drought.
“It creates conditions for armyworm and stem borers attack, which damage the maize thereby making the farmers to lose almost all the crops.
“To prevent these attacks, chemicals are applied which increases the cost of production, even some have effect on the environment and the soil.
“However, with the release of this variety, farmers would no longer have nightmares on these destructive insects.
“It will increase crop yield, reduce economy of production and less chemical will be used,” he said.
He appealed to the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to make the Tela variety available to the umbrella body of farmers and members of MAAN.
Ajani, however, called for awareness, training and enlightenment of farmers to understand that there was no negative effects of GMOs.
“There is need for trainings, pamphlet, demonstration farms, media campaigns and sensitisation programmes to encourage farmers to embrace this and free them from earlier negative opinions,” he said.
But Nnimmo Bassey, who is Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), condemned the development.
He said: “The TELA Maize genetically modified for drought tolerance and insect resistance that has just been approved for commercial release in Nigeria is a failed venture. This variety has failed in the USA, in South Africa and Kenya but yet it is to be dumped in Nigeria.
“First it was genetically modified organisms (GMO) beans, now it is GMO maize. This is complete negation of lessons learned elsewhere. Needless interventions ignoring available solutions and ambushing Nigerians to eat GMO foods. This is subversion and subjugation applauded by neocolonial warrant chiefs.”
