In accordance with the proposed federal government plans to begin the commercialization of genetically modified crops (GMOs), the National President of the Small Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (according to the proposed federal government plans to begin the commercialization of genetically modified crops (GMOs) National President of the Small Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON), Mary Afan, pushed harvest.
), Mary Afan, pushes the harvest.
Afana, who said this during a conversation with The Guardian at the weekend in Abuja, said that farmers would prefer improved seed versions instead of GMOs, given that the disadvantages of growing crops are greater than the advantages.
She indicated that initially they did not understand what a GMO is until they have the potential, which will allow them to understand that they cannot transplant seeds, and they will have to continue to buy seeds and that they will not be able to plant other seeds on the ground. GMO.
She said: “We do not encourage our members to use GMO seeds, because some of these seeds are not adapted to our environment. Although the seeds provide a high yield, but it only makes farmers keep depending on the seeds of GMOs. We will have to buy them.
“As you can see, we do not have the strength to continue to buy these seeds every year. We are used to sorting good seeds from what we plant as seeds next season. “We are not comfortable with GMOs, and we will not encourage farmers to engage in such agricultural practices.”
She suggested that agricultural research institutes could play a large role in the production of improved seed varieties instead of GMOs, since improved varieties could be planted for three generations before they are renewed.
The head of SWOFON added that the production of GMO seeds is very expensive for women farmers, considering that the production of the crop requires a lot of inorganic fertilizers.
“This is very discouraging because using too much chemical fertilizer can destroy agricultural land.” We believed that chemical fertilizer gives us high yields, but noticed that this is part of what kills our soil. Thus, there is a threat to our soil through the use of inorganic fertilizers, ”she said.
