The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has said there are no genetically modified (GM) foods in Nigerian markets, dispelling fears that Nigerians may have been buying and consuming the biologically engineered foods even before the government gives its approval.

Biotech grown foods have not gained total acceptance from authorities of most countries, even in the West, as many still fear its consumption could pose health danger to humans.

But NABDA says consumption of Genetically Modified foods will not pose any effect on human health in Nigeria as it has not been found to pose any health hazards in countries where they have been approved.

NABDA's Director General, Prof Bamidele Solomon, while speaking at a one-day training workshop for journalists in Abuja yesterday said since the biosafety bill seeks to regulate the practice of biotech in the country and has not been assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria would not commercialize its GM foods yet.

According to Prof Solomon, NABDA has three genetically modified crops in Nigeria- --beans, cassava and sorghum---but they are still being kept in the stores.

He said the delay in having GM foods in commercial quantities could make the food security vision of the government a mirage.

He said the risks for the novel (GM) foods are the same as for conventional ones.

He said, countries which have provisions for GM foods usually regulate the practice, taking into account health and environmental risks, as well as control and trade related issues.

According to Prof Solomon, apart from beans, cassava and sorghum, other GM crops are currently undergoing field trials in Nigeria and as soon as the bio-safety bill is passed into law by the National Assembly and is given presidential assent, they would be mass produced.

He said most Nigerians are skeptical about Genetically Modified plants and animals because of misinformation by some self acclaimed activists.

Report sought on India farm suicides

India's Human Rights Commission has sought reports from three states on a spate of suicides by farmers that have been reported by the local media.

Some 800 farmers have reportedly ended their lives in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala this year.

Most of the suicides have been linked to poverty, debt, a sharp rise in costs and the failure of crops because of pest attacks.

Some 200,000 farmers have committed suicide in India since 1997.

Drought, a fall in crop prices and an increase in the cost of cultivation are cited as reasons for the farmers' plight.

Media reports say that 680 farmers have taken their lives in western Maharashtra state this year, while another 98 have committed suicide in southern Andhra Pradesh and Kerala states since October.

The commission said if the reports were true they "raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the poor farmers".

Many farmers in India are forced to take out loans to buy necessary supplies, but these have left them heavily in debt. Some turn to moneylenders, who charge much higher rates of interest.

In 2008, the government announced a $15bn waiver of farmer loans.

NEW DEHLI—A high-profile Indian parliamentary panel on agriculture has urged a retreat from genetically modified (GM) food crops and is seeking the mandatory labelling of all GM foods. The report from a 31-member standing panel of parliament, delivered today, concludes that GM “field trials under any garb should be discontinued forthwith” and that future research and development should “only be done under strict containment.”

The panel undertook their review, the authors say, because of “serious differences of opinion amongst stakeholders and the controversies surrounding transgenic food crops.” The furor intensified after a government review gave its blessing to genetically modified brinjal (a type of eggplant).

The panel’s deliberations, designed to include many interested parties, gathered 15,000 pages of testimony and 50 oral depositions. The 2-year effort produced a 492-page analysis, “Cultivation of Genetically Modified Food Crops—Prospects and Effects.”


The panel chair, Basudeb Acharia, a member of parliament representing the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said in a statement that “India should not go in for GM food crops.” He also suggested that “there is a connection” between Bt cotton, a GM product that includes genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to make it pest-resistant, and farmers’ suicides, referring to thousands of farmers who have committed suicide in the last few years due to indebtedness, mostly in cotton growing regions.

The panel report deplores the fact that 93% of the cotton crop in India is now Bt cotton, which rapidly replaced traditional cotton in most areas. The panel argues that farmers now have “no alternative” but to buy more expensive Bt cotton seed. The panel concludes that “the experience of last decade has conclusively shown that while [transgenic agriculture] has extensively benefited the industry, as far as the lot of poor farmers is concerned, even trickle down is not visible.”

No company or industry group has responded at this time.

The GM review panel also sought to investigate a government regulatory panel’s 2009 decision to permit an Indian company to release Bt brinjal. This action “was indicative of collusion of a worst kind,” the report charges. The report quotes a former official saying that he felt he was pressured by industry and other officials to approve the release of Bt brinjal. Former environment minister Jairam Ramesh held a countrywide series of public hearings and in February 2010 imposed an indefinite moratorium on the release of Bt brinjal.

The report will now be examined by the relevant ministries, which will consider whether and how to implement the recommendations. These agencies will submit responses back to the panel on actions they have taken.

Rats fed a lifelong diet of one of the bestselling strains of genetically modified corn suffered tumours and multiple organ damage, according to a controversial French study published today.

Scientists said the results raised serious questions about the safety of GM foods and the assurances offered by biotech companies and governments.

The first lifetime trials involving rats fed on GM corn found a raised incidence of breast tumours, liver and kidney damage.

Olodostein: We must resist this in Nigeria and Africa as a whole by any means necessary.

ochukoccna:
True that but won't our government who are so complacent regarding their people's welfare not just roll over and get laid

DanKan0:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201209140844.html

We must resist any GM Crops. The Coporations Monsanto, Sygenta will take over our whole agriculture if we let them in. Like they are doing in India where over 200'000 farmers have commited suicide as a result of GM.

docokwy:
You don't have to subscribe to Monsanto and Syngenta. You can develop your own GM crop. Infact, GM cassava fortifoed with vitamins A has been developed by NRCRI UMudike, Abia State in collaboration with IITA, Ibadan. Home-grown GM is good for Nigeria where low productivity from several factors including low yield, low nutrient quality and poor post-harvest quality, are issues.

Olodostein:

You quoted the pros. What about the cons and longterm side effects ?