By Faridat Salifu
The leader of the team of scientists that developed TELA maize and Executive Director of the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Ado Adamu Yusuf, has said that Nigerian farmers can farm and harvest the maize variety during the rainy and dry seasons.
TELA maize is a transgenic maize variety launched on 11 June, 2024, by the Nigerian government with the aim of boosting maize production and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
In his reaction monitored on the media since the launch of TELA maize barely two weeks ago particularly against mixed reactions that trailed the launch of TELA maize in some quarters and among stakeholders in the agriculture sector, Professor Adamu, explained that the maize is not only safe for human consumption and animal feed, he added that it has the potential to resist fall armyworm and produce up to 8 to 9 tonnes per hectare, as opposed to the 2 to 3 tonnes per hectare recorded with the conventional variety.
The IAR boss noted that pests and diseases are currently ravaging farms as a result of climate change.
He said at some points, Nigeria relied on the importation of maize to fill in the deficit caused primarily by the fall armyworm.
His words: “Climate change manifests itself in different ways; one of the ways is pests and diseases, of which the armyworm is one. The fall armyworm has devastated the maize fields, and farmers have suffered a lot of losses. Nigeria in that year had no option but to import maize.
“Of course, we know what it means to import food; there are so many consequences to that. One of them is that you are going to have a critical mass that is not employed, and if farmers cannot go to their farms, then there is unemployment, and once there is unemployment, there could be social vices.
“Also, in the process of import, you are also losing your foreign exchange because nobody will give it to you for free; you will have to buy it when you are importing.
“At the same time, you will realise that not only people will be affected, but other crops will also be affected. The return on investment in maize is very high, which is why there is this dramatic shift. A lot of farmers are going into maize production, and if they are not able to do that, whatever crop they may grow, there may not be a profit and they may not bother to produce those crops,” he said.
Professor Yusuf however, noted that with the commercial release and the launch of the TELA maize, farmers have found a solution to the menace of fall armyworm
“They can comfortably grow their maize whether there is a dry spell or no dry spell; their varieties will not be affected in any way. So, this is a big achievement for the country”, he noted.
While urging Nigerians to embrace this technology, the IAR Executive Director said, “My advice for them is that the earlier they embrace this technology, the better, but I am also not surprised because, for any new technology, people are divided into three categories: we have what we call the early adopters, then we have the medium category, and we have those who never accept it no matter what you tell them,” he added.
In the mean time, the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has reassured safety of TELA Maize for human consumption and feed for animals.
In a statement released on Monday, NBMA said, “The safety and health of Nigerians are our top priorities, and we will not compromise on this.”
The agency added that it has conducted a thorough risk assessment and analysis to ensure this product’s safety for human health and the environment.
Highlighting the crop’s significance to Nigeria, NBMA reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, safety, and unbiased decision-making concerning genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The application for TELA maize underwent rigorous scrutiny by two committees comprising experts from various agencies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), universities, and research institutions.
These professionals, renowned in their fields, confirmed that TELA maize meets all safety standards.
NBMA assured the public saying, “This maize variety is as safe as its organic or conventional counterparts. There are no chemicals or insecticides laced in them as some groups claim. Our decisions are guided by scientific evidence and international best practices, ensuring the well-being of Nigerians.”