With the release of two genetically modified crops (Bt. Cotton and PBR Cowpea) for commercial planting in the country, extension agents and farmers have crucial roles to play in the commercialization of these crop varieties. This role will be challenged by the extent of the knowledge that farmers and extension workers have about biotechnology. In order to bridge this knowledge gap, the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology under the auspices of the National Biotechnology Development Agency, AATF and PBS, Washington DC organised a One-Day Retreat for these categories of the stakeholders in the north west geo political zone of Nigeria. This is aimed at educating the Extension Agents and farmers on the best agronomic practices for Bt crops, while assuring them of the safety of the Bt crops and by guaranteeing farmers of the access to Bt crops seeds.
The retreat provided the platform to present to them accurate and up to date information about advances in the biotechnology sector since its adoption in Nigeria in order that extension agents and farmers are fully acquainted with facts, information and practices that will effectively enhance productivity.
Country Coordinator, OFAB, and Deputy Director, Agric Biotech., NABDA, Dr. Rose Maxwell Gidado, while making a remark at the opening of the Retreat said the extension agents that interface with farmers on new technologies and innovations as well as the Farmers themselves who use these technologies must be brought up to speed with the necessary requirements such as stewardship guidelines, agronomic practices and other issues that would enable the technology deliver on its promises. If the extension agents are not properly educated on the best agronomic practices required for this crop, Nigeria’s hope of enhancing agricultural productivity using modern biotechnological tools may remain a mirage. She said the expected outcome of the meeting is to see Northwest farmers become big GM crops farmers.
Welcoming the participants, the Director General/CEO, NABDA, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha said the retreat was NABDA’s contribution to efforts by the government to revive the extension component of agriculture to ensure that crops perform optimally. Nigerian scientists, supported by AATF, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia,the Donald Danforth Plant Science Centre, USA have found solution to some of the Cowpea production challenges using modern biotechnology tools. He also maintained that the platform for the Retreat is being used to bring Extension Agents up to speed with the developments so that farmers can quickly embrace the varieties. This interaction, according to him, will continue until the Nigerian local farmers get it right and once the Extension Agents get it right, automatically the farmers will get it right. He ended his address by expressing his gratitude to the Kano State Government (KSG), particularly the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Binta Bala Umar for her efforts in ensuring the successful hosting of the Retreat.
Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, who spoke at the Event revealed that biotechnology is giving Nigeria a second chance and and for the Nation to grab it, and get the extention agents have to get it right due to the fact that extention is the backbone of any meaningful agricultural system. It is because it is the duty of extention services to bring the knowledge of biotechnology to the farmers who will then cultivate the varieties. He reminisced on how the North west zone particularly, Kano State, was well known as the leading producers of maize, cowpea and groundnut but the agricultural system has greatly taken a nosedive. He further stated that Kano State is now investing in agriculture with a lot of strategies lined up to spur production and enhance the living standards of farmers. The Deputy Governor was represented by his Special Adviser on Agriculture, Dr. Hafis Muhammed.
On his part, the the Executive Director, National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) Professor Emma Ikani said the emergence of biotechnology in crop breeding and production is a wakeup call to feed the future. Nigeria, he said, has a population currently in the range of 200 million and it’s estimated to about 450 million by 2050. This means more than twice of the mouths to be fed. To meet the food supply, there is need to leverage on emerging innovations. Biotechnology is the best bet for now as productivity enhancement tool in crop farming. He stressed that it is impossible to transit from subsistence farming to commercial Agriculture without extension because their roles which include linking research to farmers, translating scientific language into clientele’s native language; dissemination of biosafety messages are very important. In conclusion, he said that to feed the future population, traditional methods cannot be relied on. He then listed the roles of extension agents to include Facilitators; Identification and isolation of GAP for field use; Linking research to farmers; Enhance the formation of farmers cooperatives; Translating scientific language into clientele’s native language; Stewardship to ensure quality sustainability of biotech. Products: Quick feedbacks and disseminate biosafety messages. Since the traditional methods cannot fix feeding for the teeming population, innovation of biotechnology is a sure way to go, and extension must take its place.
While the Principal Investigator, TELA Maize project, Professor Rabiu Adamu gave an update on TELA maize to the farmers in Hausa Language. He briefed on the CFT trials and said seed companies and farmers have been eager to grow the drought tolerant TELA hybrids released and are also impressed with the performance of the transgenic products.
Hitherto, the Regional Director, AATF, Dr Issoufou Kollo said modern agriculture cannot exist without a good and functional extension system. He underscored that the roles of extension agents include collaborating with scientists to develop educational material/support for the farmers; collecting and transmitting to the scientists, the field data, and farmers opinions about the technology; collecting statistical data for the government (crop production and yield). He highlighted the benefits of building successful synergy between extension workers who would build good working relationships with farmers, being familiar with the culture and social psychology of the farmers; respect their culture, customs and traditions and most importantly, be good communicators.
Country Coordinator, Program for Biosafety System, Dr Mathew Dore, while speaking on Biosafety Best Practices said the deployment of GM crops will lead to economic growth, mitigate climate change, diversify the economy from reliance on crude oil and increase opportunities for trade. He disclosed that the the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) is the official regulatory body in Nigeria that works closely with other relevant Agencies to approve biotechnology food crops. He also highlighted the various milestones the Agency had achieved to include the building of knowledge, passing of the 2015-Biosafety Bill, approval of the first food crop approved for farmers to grow.
In another development, the Acting Director, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Institute of Agricultural Research, IAR, Zaria, Professor Aisha Mukhtar in a goodwill message highlighted the achievements of the institute in genetic improvement and production of crops like maize, sorghum, cowpea, sunflower among others. She underscored the place of Extention Agents as middle men between the research institute and farmers. According to her, all technologies from the institutes are taken to the farmers through them.
Equally the Head, Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture at the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, Dr. Shuaibu A. Madugu expressed his delight and appreciation to OFAB Nigeria for organizing such a timely and long over due retreat for the farmers and extension agents stating that it is essential to the nation right now for the farmers and Extention workers to have knowledge of modern biotechnology processes and practices.