Maize growth advancement has been okayed by the Federal Government of Nigeria who granted the needed environmental approval for the cultivation of the crop across the country.
According to a statement by Mr Alex Abutu, Communication Officer of African Agricultural Technology Foundation, AATF, West and Central Africa, in Abuja, he said it’s for the evaluation and open cultivation of TELA Maize in the country.
Abutu explained that TELA maize is a variety developed by researchers at the Institute for Agricultural Research,, IAR, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, that resists fall army-worm, stem borers, and tolerates moderate drought.
The Agency report hinted that he said that the decision is contained in a certificate issued to IAR by the National Biosafety Management Agency, NBMA.
NBMA is an agency mandated to regulate genetically modified products in the country. He said the certificate, dated October 8, 2021, with permit code no. NBMA/CM/003, was issued to IAR for General/Commercial Release of TELA Maize Genetically Modified for Drought Tolerance, Resistance to Stem Borer and Fall Army-worm.
Advancing Maize Growth
It comes into effect from Oct. 8, 2021, to Oct. 5, 2024. According to him, the document accompanying the certificate from NBMA said that in arriving at the decision to grant the permit, the agency took into consideration the advice of its Technical Sub-Committee, and the risk management report provided by the applicant.
“The Agency was convinced that there are no known adverse impacts to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, taking into account risk to human health.“The permit, pursuant to this decision, is without prejudice to other extant legal requirements.” It stated.
