Tanzanian farmers urge government to allow GM crops
The maize, cassava, and cotton farmers whose crop has been severely affected by stalk borer pests, cassava mosaic, disease and African cotton bollworm, respectively said they had applied chemical and cultural methods against the pests with no success over the years. They disclosed the problem to Tanzanian government officials, journalists, and scientists who visited their farms during a media training organised by Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB-Tanzania) last month.
One of the farmers, Chongo Ngundamira, pointed out that the high cost of inputs to control pests and diseases have decreased production capacity. "We have heard that scientists are working on biotech maize, cassava and cotton that will need less spraying as the crops are self-protected against pests and diseases," he said.
Despite crops being developed which can help solve some of the problems facing the farmers, they cannot grow the crops until the government passes the Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill which is required before these improved crop varieties, resulting from biotechnology, can be passed on for growing.
source: allafrica.com
