Farmers, environmentalists, civil society groups oppose genetically modified maize, cotton


A consortium of farmers, environmentalists and civil society groups have urged the Biosafety Regulatory Agency to stop the planned commercial introduction of Genetically Modified (GM)  Maize and Cotton.
Monsanto Agricultural Nigeria Limited has applied to National Biosafety Management Agency (NABMA) for field trial of two varieties of GM maize varieties in multiple locations in Nigeria.
 The firm is also seeking approval for the release and placing in the market in Zaria and surrounding towns of GM cotton.
 Nnimmo Bassey, an environmentalist in a statement yesterday said over 100 groups are opposing attempts to introduce GM cotton and maize into Nigeria’s food and farming systems.
 The consortium, according to the statement, is representing over 5 million Nigerians, comprising of farmers, faith-based organisations, civil society groups, students and local community groups.
 Bassey stated in a petition submitted to NABMA, that the groups have cited numerous serious health and environmental concerns and the failure of these BM crops especially GM cotton in Africa.


 Bassey, who is the Director, Health of Mother Eoparth Foundation (HOMEF), one of the groups opposed to GM maize and cotton into Nigeria, said the application was ill timed shortly after the dismal failures of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso.
 “We are totally shocked that it should come so soon after peer reviewed studies have showed that the technology has failed dismally in Burkina Faso.
 “It has brought nothing but economic misery to the cotton sector there and is being phased out in that country where compensation is being sought from Monsanto.
 “Since our Biosafety Act has only recently entered into force, what biosafety legislation was used to authorise and regulate the field trials in the past in accordance with international law and best biosafety practice?”  Bassey stated.

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