Nigeria : ‘Tela maize is solution to food security, agric challenges’
Nigeria recently celebrated its first harvest of genetically modified (GM) Tela Maize, a crop designed to resist pests like fall armyworms and stem borers. This breakthrough is a major step in addressing agricultural challenges, including low yields and pest infestations, without relying on harmful pesticides. Developed by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and Nigerian scientists, Tela Maize promises higher productivity and sustainability, offering hope for improving food security and supporting farmers facing climate uncertainties.
Initially, it drew fierce criticisms for its perceived potential to jeopardize public health, hurt the environment and the foundation of Nigeria’s agricultural sector. But, with Nigeria’s successful harvest of Tela Maize, her first Genetically Modified (GM) maize, this technological breakthrough may have proved critics wrong. It also represents a quantum leap in the nation’s quest to leverage innovation to sustainably confront some of her most pressing agricultural challenges, including the ongoing fight against food insecurity. JULIANA AGBO reports.
Nigeria’s push to sustainably transform her agricultural sector has received a significant traction. This is on the strength of the country’s recent celebration of its first harvest of Genetically Modified (GM) maize, known as ‘Tela Maize,’ marking a pivotal leap not only for Nigerian farmers, but for the nation’s broader food security ambitions, and promising a revolution in how the country grows its food.
Indeed, for decades, Nigeria’s agricultural sector has struggled under the weight of low yields, pest infestations, and climate-induced uncertainties. Farmers across the country have been trapped in cycles of poor productivity, largely due to outdated farming methods and a reliance on chemical pesticides.
But with the successful cultivation of Tela Maize, which is genetically designed to resist pests like fall armyworms and stem borers, the future of farming in Nigeria looks promising.
The Director-General, National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, conveyed this optimistic sentiment when he said: “Tela Maize is not just a crop; it’s a game-changer. This maize can dramatically boost farm yields without the need for harmful chemical sprays.
“It’s safe for human consumption, and it’s a sustainable solution to some of our most pressing agricultural challenges. This is just the beginning. We’re not only feeding Nigeria, we’re shaping the future of agriculture.”
Mustapha, whose Agency has been championing the introduction of GM crops to Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, spoke during a field trip organised by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Abuja, where he highlighted the monumental significance of this achievement.
The thing is that NBRDA, which Mustapha heads, has been at the forefront of the Tela Maize innovation or technological breakthrough that has now put farmers and various stakeholders in the agric sector in excited and expectant mode.
The Tela Maize project, an intervention of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) backed by years of research by indigenous scientists at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, is the culmination of rigorous testing to ensure its safety and productivity. This technological breakthrough represents more than just a scientific success; it’s a beacon of hope for a country grappling with the dual challenges of feeding a rapidly growing population and combating the effects of climate change.
A lifeline for farmers
It is easy to see why farmers across the country are literally over the moon following the adoption of Tela Maize. For instance, it has the potential to lift Nigerian farmers out of the cycle of low productivity that has long plagued the sector. The Abuja field trip gave credence to this assertion.
The trip offered stakeholders the opportunity to visit a demonstration farm where thriving Tela Maize crops stood as a testament to the crop’s resilience and promise. The event, aptly titled “Seeing is Believing,” gave attendees experience of the tangible benefits Tela Maize could bring.
Source Link : https://thenationonlineng.net/tela-maize-is-solution-to-food-security-agric-challenges/
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