Nigeria: GM maize progresses in Nigeria as farmers struggle with drought and insect pests

By Nkechi Isaac As farmer Ahiaba Sylvanus recalls, it never used to be necessary to spray maize, millet and guinea corn with pesticides in the Nigerian state of Kaduna, where he lives. But the recent long drought, likely resulting from climate change, weakened the cereal crops, which were then attacked by insects. “Maize is a very important crop for farmers but the advent of insects and the fall army worm (FAW) has increased the price of corn because we now have to spend money buying pesticides to ward off infestation of the farm,” Sylvanus explained. Maize farmers can lose up to 80 percent of their crop in severe situations if they fail to spray their farms as pests feed on the stalks, he said. “The stem borer will enter the inner-most peak of the maize and start feeding on it and within a short time the maize will completely die. It has devastating effects on the maize farm.” Nigerian scientists are working to provide farmers like Sylvanus another option — genetically modified ...