Abuja: Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, the Director-General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), has announced the agency’s commitment to aiding farmers through agricultural technology to enhance food production nationwide. During a courtesy visit from the Islamic Green Club and Empowerment Initiative, a registered faith-based organization, Mustapha emphasized the importance of leveraging technology in agriculture for sustainable growth and development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mustapha highlighted the global trend of utilizing technology in agriculture to produce essential food and cash crops. He questioned the wisdom of not supporting local farmers with similar technological advancements, pointing out that other countries are already benefiting from such strategies. Mustapha mentioned that crops like Tela maize, cowpea, and Biotech (Bt) cotton have been commercially released in the country, offering significant economic benefits and reducing the need for food importa
tion.
The NBRDA chief explained that these genetically modified crops not only contribute to job creation but also address climate change challenges affecting both the country and the world. Mustapha addressed concerns about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), attributing the spread of misinformation to individuals attempting to undermine efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition.
He shared insights from recent farming activities, noting that farmers who planted Bt cowpea experienced full harvests despite insufficient rainfall, unlike those who used local seeds. This advantage, he said, underscores the agency’s readiness to use science and technology to bolster food production in line with President Tinubu’s eight-point agenda, which includes ensuring food security.
Mustapha expressed optimism that the Islamic Green Club’s visit would foster advocacy for agricultural technology development in the country. In response, Hajiya Bola Usman, President of the Islamic Green Club and Empowerment Initiative, urg
ed lawmakers to conduct oversight visits to evaluate agencies under challenging conditions for effective regulation. She emphasized the need for accurate information on GMOs and cautioned against misleading stakeholders.
Usman remarked that other African countries are profiting from agricultural technology, which is often criticized in Nigeria. She advocated for embracing the technologies that have enabled other nations to advance and compete globally through collaboration between governments and citizens. Dr. Shakirat Ajenifujah-Solebo, Director of the Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics Department at NBRDA, acknowledged the organization’s role in disseminating accurate biotechnology information at the grassroots level and praised their efforts to support agricultural technology for enhanced food production.