Agriculture, Featured
As the global climate continues to shift unpredictably, food security has become an increasingly critical issue, particularly in regions heavily dependent on agriculture. In Nigeria, where agriculture is a primary source of livelihood for millions, the impact of climate change is already being felt through reduced crop yields, irregular weather patterns and increased incidence of pests and diseases. Although Genetically Modified, GM, crops have emerged as a powerful tool in the fight for food security, the sustainability of this model remains a germane concern for farmers.
By Anthony Isibor
RECENTLY, Steve Mbogo, a Kenyan businessman revealed that a Kilo of Genetically Modified tomato seedlings in Kenya goes for 10 million shillings, approximately ₦123,119,199.14 million, with the best qualities ranging around 70 million shillings.
Mbogo’s concern was that ordinary farmers in Kenya may not be economically able to continue farming in the next five years.
Like Mbogo, many Nigerian farmers and concerned stakeholders have continued to raise concerns over the introduction of GMO crops into the nation’s agricultural system, not undermining the advantages of modified seedings in withstanding adverse weather conditions as well as pests and diseases.
The impact of climate change and the formidable challenges that it poses to food production in Nigeria can neither be ignored or overemphasized. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme weather events such as floods and droughts are threatening the stability of agricultural output and the effect can be seen in the very enormous prices of agricultural produce in the country.
According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, the country has experienced a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events over the past decade. In 2022 alone, devastating floods affected over 2 million people, destroying vast swathes of farmland and jeopardizing food security.
This is even more worrisome as the country’s agricultural productivity is largely traditional, with subsistence farming being the dominant practice.
The Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, had also revealed that Nigeria is one of the 16 countries in sub-Saharan Africa facing severe food insecurity, with over 19 million people expected to be food insecure by 2023.
Chijioke Osuji, a climate change expert at the University of Lagos, in highlighting the severity of the situation had this to say: “Nigeria’s agricultural sector is highly vulnerable to climate variability. If we do not adapt our farming practices and crop varieties to the changing climate, we risk severe food shortages in the near future.”
Although the introduction of GMO crops was in direct response to the challenges of food security caused by worsening climate change issues; drought, erosion and harsh weather conditions. But it’s adoption has been met with some resistance and concerns about the safety of GM foods, their environmental impact, and the socio-economic effects on smallholder farmers have sparked debates.
However, Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million, faces significant challenges in ensuring food security for its citizens. The country’s agricultural sector, though rich in potential, has been grappling with issues such as low productivity, climate change, pest infestations, and post-harvest losses. As the demand for food continues to rise, the relevance of Genetically Modified, GM crops in promoting food sustainability became increasingly necessary.
To tackle these challenges, the Nigerian government in 2019 approved the commercial release of Bt cowpea, making Nigeria the first country in the world to introduce this GM crop, report says.
According to Rose Gidado, Assistant Director of the National Biotechnology Development Agency, NABDA, Bt cowpea has been a breakthrough in the fight against crop losses due to pests. Gidado noted that farmers who adopted the crop are reporting higher yields and reduced pesticide use.
This approval marked the beginning of Nigeria’s journey towards embracing biotechnology to enhance agricultural productivity. Bt cotton has since been cultivated in several states, leading to increased yields and reduction in pesticide use. The success of Bt cotton has opened the door for other GM crops, such as GM maize and cowpea, which are currently undergoing field trials.
One of the most promising developments is the introduction of drought-tolerant maize. This is because, Maize is a staple food in Nigeria and it’s production has been adversely affected by erratic rainfall patterns. The Water Efficient Maize for Africa, WEMA project, which includes Nigeria as a key participant, had to develop drought-tolerant maize varieties using both conventional breeding and genetic modification techniques. Field trials in Nigeria have shown that these GM maize varieties can produce yields up to 30% higher than traditional varieties under drought conditions.
Professor Mohammed Umar, Director of the Institute for Agricultural Research, IAR, at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in advancing the importance of these advancements emphasized that “Drought-tolerant GMO crops are a game-changer for Nigerian agriculture. They offer a viable solution to the challenges posed by climate change, helping farmers maintain productivity even in adverse conditions.”
Although GMO crops as a viable solution especially as they have been genetically altered to exhibit traits such as pest resistance, drought tolerance, and improved nutritional content, the major concern of farmers and concerned stakeholders emanates from the concerns such as environmental impact, gene transfer challenges, contamination of organic crops, ethical issues, impact of the crops on traditional soil structures and the fear that GMO may bring an end to a long standing sustainable tradition of recycling seeds. All of these concerns are germane and need to be addressed urgently, especially with further research to fully comprehend their risks and benefits.
The Nigerian government has not been idle either. Earlier in May, the House of Representatives urged the federal government to suspend the commercialisation of GMO crops in Nigeria amid concerns over food and environmental safety and mandated that its Committee on Agricultural Production and Services conduct a comprehensive investigation into GMO introduction in Nigeria by the National Biosafety Management Agency, NBMA.
The House also called on the federal government to suspend the introduction of new GMO crops until investigation by its Committee on Agricultural Production and Services is completed and the findings are made public.
The inability to recycle GMO seeds means that farmers will need to get these seedlings from big corporations every time they need to cultivate their farm lands. The cost implication of this practice is enormous.
As climate change continues to challenge food security, the relevance of GM crops in sustaining Nigeria’s food production cannot be overstated; however, there is need to address these concerns and ensure the safe use of GM technology.
Looking ahead in Nigeria, and to prevent the economic challenges farmers already face in sourcing for GMO seedlings in some African countries, the integration of these crops into the agricultural system will require continued research, public awareness campaigns and supportive government policies.
The government must focus on the policies that will regulate GMO crops and must get it right.
A.I
Sept. 2, 2024
Tags: Anthony Isibor Chijioke Osuji FAO GMO NIMET Rose Gidado Steve Mbogo
