Agency Report –
Dr Abraham Isah, Programme Officer of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa, OFAB, Nigeria, has urged Northern governors to adopt the planting of Tela maize seeds in their states to enhance food security.
Mr Isah, who also serves as the Public Relations Officer of the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria, made this call during a chat with newsmen after inspecting a Tela maize farm in Mashanono community, Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa on Thursday.
He expressed satisfaction with the crop’s growth and encouraged other farmers to cultivate it for maximum profit at the end of the season.
According to him, Tela maize is a transgenic, insect-resistant, and drought-tolerant variety that should be widely adopted, particularly in Northern Nigeria, to help farmers mitigate the challenges posed by climate change.
“We are here to gather farmers’ experiences with planning transgenic crops, especially the resistant coffee beans and the Tela maize on how it has impacted on their lives and the community.
“And to find out on speculation that farmers may not want to plant local crops after planting transgenic crops”, he said.
According to Mr Isah, the northern region experiences a high percentage of favourable climatic conditions, making it suitable for drought-resistant crops that require minimal water.
“And of course, this is beneficial for any region with insufficient rainfall,” he said.
He urged Northern governors to take advantage of these crops by ensuring their availability to farmers in their respective states and by educating them on the benefits of cultivating Tela maize.
He also reassured farmers that these crops were safe and healthy, advising them not to heed misinformation claiming that transgenic crops caused infertility, cancer, or other health issues.
Usman Abubakar, a farmer, shared his success story with transgenic crops, stating that he planted improved cotton and maize seeds and had been recording significant profits at the end of each season.
According to him, when he previously planted local cotton seeds, he harvested only eight kilograms per hectare. However, with the improved seed variety, his yield increased to 4.5 tons per hectare.
Mr Abubakar added that his profits enabled him to sponsor his three children at the American University of Nigeria, AUN, with two already graduated. Additionally, Abubakar said he had funded the drilling of eight boreholes in his community and undertaken other charitable projects through his foundation.
He noted that his success led to his appointment as an adviser to the Adamawa State Governor on Agriculture and Entrepreneurship Development.
“And for the maize, you have seen the difference for yourself. The local maize was damaged by pests, while the Tela maize remained pest-free and grew much better,” he stated.
