A director at the Institute of Agricultural Research at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Professor Rabiu Adamu, has highlighted the inadequacy of traditional crop production methods to satisfy Nigeria”s food requirements.
He emphasized that the current agricultural practices are unsustainable, particularly given the country”s rising population and diminishing arable land. Nigeria, recognized as the most populous nation in Africa, produced 12.4 million metric tonnes of maize but fell short of the national requirement of 18 million metric tonnes.
To bridge this gap, the Nigerian government has endorsed the introduction of high-yield maize varieties that are both drought-resistant and insect-resistant. Professor Adamu stated, “Nigeria still needs to improve its production per unit area. Per hectare production is less than 3 tonnes, so we need improvement there because urbanization, road construction, and desertification are encroaching on agricultural lands.” He stressed that enhancing production necessitates the use of high-yield crops that minimize the need for herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers.
Addressing concerns regarding the safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Professor Adamu assured that all crops entering Nigeria must comply with rigorous regulatory standards to guarantee their safety for human consumption. He noted that the regulations for GMOs are even more stringent than those for conventional crops due to the introduction of genetic materials. “Before any crop is released for commercial use, it must go through extensive physiological and nutritional analysis,” he explained.
According to the professor, existing data from over 200 studies conducted in regions including Europe, the USA, Latin America, and parts of Africa support the safety of GMOs. He pointed out that there has been no evidence from the World Health Organization or the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations indicating that GMOs pose any risk to humans or animals.
Currently, several genetically modified crops, such as maize, tomatoes, rice, soybeans, and pawpaw, are available in the market, with no substantiated safety issues reported. The adoption of GMOs, Professor Adamu noted, was pivotal for Nigeria in signing the Geneva Protocol on biodiversity, which allows for the implementation and commercialization of transgenic crops.
Professor Adamu further stated that Nigeria”s production of organic food remains limited and primarily relies on conventional crops, similar to other developing nations where farmers utilize external inputs like organic fertilizers and non-synthetic pesticides. He explained that certain genetically modified crops have been developed to overcome specific challenges faced by farmers, such as pests like stem borers and fall army worms.
The federal government has officially approved the cultivation of three genetically modified crops, beginning with Bt cotton in 2020 to combat boll worms, followed by the cowpea variety SAMPEA 20T in 2021, and most recently, the Tela maize, designed to resist army worms and stem borers, scheduled for release in 2024. This maize hybrid is noted for its high resistance to pests and some level of drought tolerance.
As agricultural challenges mount, Professor Adamu”s insights underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions to ensure food security in Nigeria.
