THE Federal Government recently launched the transgenic maize variety called TELA maize which is part of efforts to strengthen and boost maize production in the country.
This new maize variety which was developed at the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria has the potential to resist the fall Armyworm, withstand drought and triple its yield compared to the conventional variety.
The maize was developed with support from the African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners.
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have said that this new maize variety is a game-changer and will translate into better livelihood for farmers and a boost to the Nigerian economy.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi who launched the maize in Abuja, said the government will only do things that will promote the welfare, health and security of the citizens.
He expressed satisfaction with the yield potentials of the new maize variety, stating that it is part of the agenda of the present administration of President Bola Tinubu to ensure that there is enough food for Nigerians.
For us, what is important is for Nigerians to know that as a government, we will do only those things that will promote their welfare and security and we will not venture into anything that will be detrimental to both the security, safety and health of our citizens.
It is significant for us to realizes that the technology we are talking about today is Nigeria driven, and whatever concerns that Nigerians are expressing is not unfounded, there is no technology that has come anew and does not receive pushback, it is normal,” he added.
The issue with Tela Maize is that it is high yielding, which means the present yield farmers are getting will be more than double from what the Principal Investigator has said.
The Minister noted that the new maize variety has been developed to resist the fall armyworm which destroys almost 100 per cent of maize planted in the field.
The Chairman of African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF) Board of Trustee Professor Aggrey Ambali said that the newly launched TELA maize variety in Nigeria will bridge the country’s annual maize production deficit.
He said by developing and commercialising this transgenic maize variety, Nigeria s journey to food security and better livelihood for farmers is achievable.
Professor Ambali said the TELA Maize variety, with its remarkable yield potential of up to 10 tons per hectare compared to the current average of 3 tons per hectare represents a groundbreaking development in our collective efforts to boost Nigeria s agricultural productivity.
This substantial increase in yield is poised to significantly bridge the annual maize production gap, thereby contributing immensely to national food security and the livelihoods of countless farmers.
Moreover, the resilience of TELA Maize against drought and pests is a testament to the power of biotechnology in addressing some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture.
By mitigating these threats, we can ensure more stable and reliable food supplies, which are crucial for the socio-economic stability of our communities , he noted.
Also, the Executive Director, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Dr. Canisius Kanangire while commending the Nigerian government for their support in the project, added that under the TELA Maize Project, the Federal Government facilitated the operational environment for key Ministries and departments to work together and collaborate towards attainment of their mandates.
He said they witnessed government bodies working with institutions such as AATF and the private sector for the good of the country.
This launch also highlights the importance of technology and innovation in our development agendas. The use of biotechnology in agriculture holds great potential towards making a difference in our communities.
By promoting policies that support agricultural innovation, the Federal Government of Nigeria helped create an enabling environment for the development and use of genetically modified crops that are safe, productive, and beneficial to smallholder farmers and the environment, he said.
Dr Kanangire said with their resistance to pests and tolerance to drought, TELA Maize varieties will boost maize yields and provide more food and income for farmers in Nigeria. The president of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Arc Kabir Ibrahim while lamenting that farmers are losing a lot of maize in the farm due to pest attack and drought, said TELA maize presents hope for the Nigerian farmers.
“I understand that the maize has 3 in 1 advantage and we cherish that, farmers have been losing a lot of money fighting insects like stem borers, fall armyworm and drought.
“Maize is very unique in our food system because both livestock and humans consume maize. The quantity of maize we have in Nigeria is not enough. There is no better time than now for us to optimise production of maize because we need food security in Nigeria.
I challenge the farmers to embrace Tela maize, it is safe for consumption, plant them so that the world will be food secured,” Ibrahim noted.
Also, the Executive Director of IAR, Professor Ado Adamu Yusuf said the Tela Maize variety will not only save Nigerian farmers the cost of production through the reduction in chemical insecticide sprays by up to 2 billion annually, but also ensure sustainable food security in the country and across the West African sub-region.
He said that the new maize varieties offer 3 in 1 protection to maize which include drought tolerance, resistance to fall armyworm, and resistance to stem borer insect pests.
This triple protection assures the farmer of yield advantage and reduces the use of chemical pesticides, saving farmers money and reducing the environmental and health hazards associated with the use of these pesticides, Professor Yusuf explained.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate, while speaking through a representative at the launch of the Tela Maize, expressed delight that Nigeria is gaining grounds among a community of nations that are using modern biotechnology to address critical agricultural challenges.
The Minister explained that the TELA Maize Project is one of several interventions by AATF on the African continent to address the problem of drought and destructive insects, and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is excited to be part of the launch of the TELA maize, which, in addition to being developed to resist the highly destructive Fall Army Worm (FAW) pest, which had hitherto been controlled by harmful chemicals, can produce a yield of up to 9 MT per hectare .
Pate said the mandate of his ministry is concerned with the formulation, implementation, and support of policies and programmes related to sound health.
He said when it comes to genetically modified crops, the ministry is guided by the activities of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Environment that has the responsibility of ensuring proper regulation of modern biotechnology and its products so that they do not cause harm to human health or the environment.
The Minister further explained that before approving GMOs for use in Nigeria, the NBMA would have carried out rigorous risk assessments to ensure they were safe and healthy.
At several forums, the NBMA has stated that GMOs are safe for humans and the environment and can help Nigeria achieve food security. We strongly share this belief, and we are ready to support any product, program, or initiative that promotes good health.
A major pest attack in Africa is the FAW, capable of causing 100% yield loss in maize, thus jeopardizing food security throughout Africa. The FAW, a transboundary and invasive moth from the Americas, was first detected on the African continent in Nigeria in early 2016 and had invaded and spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa by 2018.
“Presently, the FAW invasion has become the biggest threat to maize production and the maize value chain in Africa. This pest has been a nightmare for many small holder farmers in Africa, including Nigeria, and these farmers have resorted to several control measures for FAW, which include the use of chemical pesticides which are expensive and harmful, hand-picking of the pest s egg masses and larvae, which is ineffective, and some other cultural practices that are time consuming and not sustainable.
“Therefore, today marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to address this menace as we offer our farmers varieties that are affordable and effective in resisting the attack by the FAW.
“While climatic change has favoured the proliferation of destructive pests, which has reduced the country’s food production over the years, population growth in Africa has significantly increased the amount of food needed to adequately feed our people.
“With the success story of the PBR cowpea, agricultural biotechnology has proven to be a lasting solution to enhance food security and mitigate the impacts of climate change in Africa. I, therefore, urge all Nigerians to accept this safe technology,” he added.
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