By TERYIMA ANDREW-
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) said it has produced genetically modified Beans that can resist every insects that destroys beans in Nigeria.
Programme officer, West Africa, Mr. Oyenkachi Francis Nwankwo, made the disclosure to Journalists on Wednesday, in Jos, Plateau state shortly after he presented a lecture at a scientific conference.
According to the programme officer, the newly genetically modified Beans shall enable Nigerian Beans farmers have better yield from beans production without spraying lots of insecticides.
“You may be aware that farmers who produce beans in Nigeria do spray chemicals about ten times before harvest, and even after harvest for preservation; thereby making beans grains harmful for consumption.”
The programme officer explained that “but with the genetically modified beans, farmers may need to spray chemical on their farm only twice, just to kill other insects, but not to kill the major insects which have been destroying Beans.” Mr Nwankwo explained.
He stated further that, “you may be aware that a similar technology was used in other some parts of the World and tested 15,000 varieties of Beans, but could not achieve the purposes of producing a genetically modified Beans that could resist insects; but we (AATF) have succeeded in modifying one. It is a major biotechnology achievement.”
Mr. Nwankwo also said the genetically modified bean variety is safe for human consumption.
“The variety is 100 percent safe for consumption. You may also be aware that the EU in 2015 ban importation of Beans from Nigerian, that beans form Nigeria was not safe for consumption due to spray of chemicals on beans.”
According to him, the genetically modified beans has undergone biotechnology test, through national biosafety Agency of Nigeria, for the past ten years, form 2008 to 2018.
The AATF programme officcer describe the discovery of the genetically modified beans as a landmarks achievement in biotechnology public health in Nigeria, and in Africa in genetical.
The AATF organization is responsible in researching on genetically modified organisms in West Africa, with it office in Abuja, Nigeria.
