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The government of Nigeria has granted environmental approval for the assessment and outdoor cultivation of TELA maize, a new variety of maize developed by researchers at the Agricultural Research Institute of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria that is resistant to fall armyworm to stem borers and tolerates moderate drought.
The government’s decision was contained in a certificate issued to the IRA by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), the federal government agency mandated to regulate genetically modified products in the country.
The certificate dated October 8, 2021, with the permit code no. NBMA / CM / 003 has been issued to IRA for the general / commercial release of TELA maize genetically modified for drought tolerance, resistance to stem borer and FAW. It comes into force from October 8, 2021 to October 5, 2024.
A decision document accompanying the NBMA certificate said that in reaching the decision to grant the permit, the agency considered the advice of the National Biosafety Committee, the National Biosafety Technical Subcommittee and the risk management report provided by the applicant. .
“The Agency was convinced that there are no known negative impacts on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, given the risks to human health. The permit, in accordance with this decision, is without prejudice to other legal requirements in force.
“This permit authorizes the permit holder and persons covered by the permit to market TELA corn genetically modified for drought tolerance and insect resistance,” the NBMA decision document reads.
Reacting to the decision, Prof Ishiyaku Mohammed, executive director of the IAR, said it was truly inspiring for the IAR to get NBMA approval for the commercialization of drought and insect resistant corn. (TELA MAIZE).
“This further highlights the capacity and commitment of IAR to provide effective solutions to the agricultural problems facing our farmers and to optimize the food security of Nigerians. The approval will pave the way for combating the devastating effects of drought and insect pests through the deployment of this new variety of corn in our farming system.
“The next step is to further assess the performance of this new variety by farmers on their fields in all major maize growing areas in Nigeria. Thereafter, we will seek further approval from the National Variety Dissemination Committee before marketing the seeds so that farmers can plant them during the 2023 harvest season. ”
Dr Canisius Kanangire, Executive Director of AATF, said the approval showed Nigeria truly is the giant leading the way in Africa and ensuring small farmers benefit from life-changing and transformative technologies. agriculture in other parts of the world.
“The approval from the Government of Nigeria is a sign that we are making good progress, especially in our quest to expand options for smallholder farmers on the continent to profit from their labor using affordable technologies that improve productivity and reduce incidents of pest ‘infestation.
“TELA Maize comes at a time when farmers are spending so much to reduce insect and pest attacks as well as to tackle the problem of drought. With TELA Maize, Nigerian farmers will be relieved from constant frequent chemical spraying which affects their health. Savings from the use of chemicals can be converted to meet other family needs, ”added Dr. Kanangire.
Dr Sylvester Oikeh, AATF TELA Maize Project Director, said it was the start of a new era for maize farmers in Nigeria who have suffered greatly from the dual problem of drought and devastating insect pests. caused by climate change. Resources and time spent protecting corn from insect pests will be used for other operations. The corn produced will provide healthier grains for farmers and consumers.
Professor Rabiu Adamu, principal investigator of TELA Maize, said that with deregulation, the Institute is now allowed to conduct multi-site trials to assess the performance and adaptability of TELA hybrids in different agroecologies in the world. Nigeria.
“The most productive hybrids with drought tolerance and resistance to stem borer and fall armyworm will be distributed to farmers for cultivation. We hope to register some of the exceptional hybrids to be marketed through Nigerian seed companies for farmers to cultivate during the rainy season of 2023. ”
Professor Adamu added that: “Deregulation will accelerate our work to achieve the project’s mission of providing farmers with GM maize to solve the problems of drought, stem borer and fall armyworm.
The TELA Maize project in Nigeria is part of an international consortium coordinated by AATF, involving Bayer, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the national agricultural research systems of seven countries including Ethiopia , Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda since 2018. The project builds on the achievements of a decade of excellent breeding work to develop resistant conventional maize drought-resistant and climate-smart, known as DroughtTEGO varieties.
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