Tridge summary
Nigeria has made history by releasing the first genetically modified (GM) food crop, a pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea, in Africa, excluding South Africa. This development, a collaboration between the African Agricultural Technology Foundation and Ahmadu Bello University, aims to combat the pod borer pest, which causes up to 80% of yield losses. The PBR cowpea, which could boost Nigeria's cowpea production by 20 to 100 percent, was introduced in Kano and is expected to enhance food security, increase farmers' income, and reduce malnutrition. The release of this GM crop is seen as a significant advancement in agricultural biotechnology, with the Minister of Science and Technology recognizing it as a solution to Nigeria's food and nutritional challenges. The National Biotechnology Development Agency has highlighted biotechnology as a key tool in enhancing productivity, reducing labor and increasing yields.
Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.
Original content
By Nkechi Isaac History was made today as Nigeria officially released genetically modified (GM) cowpea, which offers protection from the pod borer pest. It’s the first genetically modified (GM) food crop adopted in Africa outside of South Africa. The pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea — popularly known as beans in Nigeria — is resistant to the insect pest Maruca vitrata, which is responsible for up to 80 percent yield losses. PBR cowpea, which was first released in Nigeria in December 2019 as the SAMPEA 20-T variety, is the product of an international partnership under the coordination of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) that included scientists from the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Dr. Denis Kyetere, the outgoing executive director of AATF, described the launch in Kano as a landmark event that would help Nigeria to achieve food security and also increase farmers’ incomes. In his speech on the occasion, he said ...
Source: Agropages
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