The Acting Director General of the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Khalid Ishiak, has said there are 40 metric tons of Tela maize varieties within Nigeria for farmers at the moment. The official disclosed this during a press conference in Abuja amidst controversy trailing the commercialization of the Genetically Modified (GM) corn variety in Nigeria.
Recall that the adoption of Tela maize has generated controversies among anti-GMO groups in Nigeria, particularly the environmental think-tank Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and several other groups, have all condemned GMO adoption in the country. In May, the House of Representatives urged the federal government to suspend the commercialisation of Genetically Modified (GMO) crops in Nigeria amid lingering concerns about food and environmental safety. Some environmentalists have argued that the move to commercialise GMO seeds would have far-reaching
Mr. Ishiak said, “The quantity of Tela maize in the country surprised us because all we did was that by the time the farmers would need them, we would not have zero. For now, it is just a small quantity of breeder seeds and 40 metric tons. Only 40 metric tons, which is still within.” He added that the seeds directly researched are released by the breeders from the research institute which they referred to as breeder seeds.