By Ngozi Nwankwo
Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, has condemned the ideas that Genetically Modified Organism, GMO, will end hunger in Nigeria, saying that it was a false propaganda.
While saying that Nigeria does not need Genetically Modified Foods, HOMEF stressed the need for the country to reclaim its food heritage in order to build food sovereignty.
The Foundation disclosed this at one- day conference on propaganda of GMO, held in Abuja on Tuesday.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey linked the cause of food insecurity in Nigeria to lack of extension of officers in the Ministry of Agriculture, and lack of infrastructure to preserve crops or food.
“We are having food insecurity not because sufficient foods are not produced in Nigeria or because our farmers are not working hard but Nigeria food problems come because of lack of extension of officers in the Ministry of Agriculture, lack of infrastructure to preserve crops. A lot of food produced in Nigeria are wasting because no adequate infrastructure to preserve them,” said Bassey.
According to the Executive Director, genetically engineering crops do not yield higher than natural crops but they are being promoted by those who do not have interest of the country.
” GMOs have been in the world since 1996 yet hunger has not reduced, this this to tell you that genetically engineering foods have no role in ending hunger. The major reason Nigeria is having food insecurity is because of insecurity in the country. Most of the farmers in the north are no longer going to their farms because of bandits that destroy their crops,” said Bassey.
He, however, said that if GMOs are allowed to flourish in Nigeria, it would lead to destruction in the nation’s food system, health and environmental hazards, and brings about risking technology.
Also, one of the keynote address speakers, Prof. Zachary Anger Gundu said doubts about GMO are credible, saying that GMOs are driven by greed and profit.
Gundu said Nigeria and Africa food security must be predicted on the small farmers using local plant and animal species.
According to him, Nigeria agricultural Research and Development must be foregrounded on the citizens thinking, imagination and creativity around their indigenous food.
While proffering solutions, Gundu said Nigeria could only attain to food security by providing security, and maximizing utilisation of arable lands.
He also stressed the need for registration of all small farmers to track production and draw them into the formal sector.
Gundu also called for promotion of biodiversity in place of monoculture, and political and economic reforms.