By Bisola Adeyemo
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, has said the farming system in Nigeria will make no meaningful impact on agriculture without technology.
The minister said this while receiving the visiting Executive Director of African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Dr. Canisius Kanangire, at the ministry’s office in Abuja, adding that anti-technologists kicking against the introduction of agricultural technology can be effectively eliminated with the continuous presentation of factual and reliable information to demystify the subject matter, science Nigeria reports
The minister added that genetic modification technology is not harmful but some of the fears expressed maybe be genuine.
“We need to work more to provide people with correct information that will help them make informed decisions about the technology.
“I have a very decent understanding of GMOs, but there is a lot we need to do to reach out to the people, especially farmers. We cannot make any meaningful impact in agriculture if we exclude technology,” he added.
Kanangira, in his remark, applauded the Nigerian government and people for accepting the use of technologies to enhance agricultural productivity in the country.
“The progress recorded by Nigeria will have an immense impact on the continent. Nigeria has taken a giant step in bringing technologies to the doorstep of her farmers. I have come to celebrate with you and to reiterate our determination to continue to work with you in your efforts to address food insecurity,” he added.
A statement by the AATF communications officer, West and Central Africa, Alex Abutu, said Kanangire was in Nigeria on a five-day working visit and met the director generals of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), the executive secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) and the executive director, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR).