NaijaAgroNet
The Director, African Biotech Network of Expertise (ABNE), Professor Diran Makinde, has posited that African countries should have reliable systems to monitor developments in biotechnology to ensure successes in health, food security, biodiversity and trade, NaijaAgroNet reports.
The Dr. Makinde said that in the face of opposition and activism, evidence based decisions is germane to sustain the tempo in public awareness on the safety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) adding that what Africa needs to do is monitor local seed companies so that seeds are not adulterated.
He took this position at the three-day biotechnology short course organized by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) agency Africa Biosafety Network of Expertise in collaboration with University of Ghana (UG) Legon, and Michigan State University (MSU).
The course, NaijaAgroNet gathered, seeks to provide a platform that would empower key stakeholders within the Biosafety systems in Ghana and Nigeria with current information on safe management of modern biotechnology to enable them effectively support regulatory process.
Expert pointed out that with 65 per cent of Africa's labour workforce employed by agriculture coupled with aging farmers, climate change, drought and famine and the youth shunning agriculture, Biotech stands to optimize productivity and contribute to food, feed and fiber security.
NaijaAgroNet further reports that Biotechnology is the use of living organisms to produce a product or service such as tools of tissue culture, molecular characterization for identification purposes in plant breeding, diagnostics, fermentation and genetic engineering.
Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE
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Showing posts with label expertise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label expertise. Show all posts
Friday, July 31, 2015
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Nigeria, Israel enter agricultural deal
The Federal Government of Nigeria and State of Israel, penultimate
Friday signed a cooperation agreement to share expertise and step up
cooperation in the agriculture field aimed at boosting food security in both countries,
report
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The agreement was signed
on behalf of the FG by the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr.
Akinwumi Adesina and his Israeli counterpart, Yair Shamir at a short ceremony
in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Speaking, Adesina said Nigeria will work closely with the state of
Israel to boost fish production, so as to cut down on the amount spent yearly
importing fish, noting that Nigeria spends 125 billion naira, about $760
million annually, on fish imports alone.
“… This ought not to be, considering the abundant water resources in
this country. The cooperation will also include areas of beef production, horticulture
and training," he said.
Pointing out that Israel will also help Nigeria to structure her rural
communities in a way that youths in these communities will be able to create
wealth through agricultural activities instead of migrating from their local
areas.
The minister said, the government is trying to woo private investors in
hopes of bolstering the local agricultural sector and up to $4 billion has
already been invested in local agriculture projects by private companies.
Adesina said the Nigeria-Israel cooperation deal would foster
development in the sector and "impact private-sector businesses
tremendously, bringing wealth to youths by creating gainful jobs."
Equally, Shamir said Israel would cooperate with the Nigerian
government to develop agriculture in Africa`s top oil producer. Stressing that the
Israeli government would begin by training employees of Nigeria`s Ministry for
Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasising that the partnership would boost
food security for both countries.
Isaac Oyimah with agency report/GEE
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