National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), has disclosed that the need to adopt modern technologies like biotechnology becomes necessary, stating that normal way of farming in the country which is devoid of modern technologies cannot guarantee food security.
The Director General, NABDA, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha said this at a One-Day Sensitization Workshop for Council Chairmen, Religious Cleric, Traditional Rulers, Farmers and Extension Agents From Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council.
NABDA was established in November 2001 under the aegis of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, and structured in line with the international standard to implement the policy that is aimed at promoting, coordinating, and setting research and development priority in biotechnology for Nigeria.
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The Country Coordinator for Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Dr Rose Gidado, represented Professor Mustapha at the workshop with the theme, ‘Community Empowerment Through Agricultural Biotechnology: The Role of Council Chairmen, Clerics, Monarchs, Extension Worker and Farmers’.
According to NBDA DG, the essence of inviting the traditional rulers, clerics and others, is to inform them that traditional farming is no longer productive with the growing population, and to intimate them about biotechnology, which is the latest innovation Nigeria has embraced in providing affordable, safe, and nutrient rich food to the populace.
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He boasted that farmers are already celebrating due to the release of some varieties of improved crops like PBR cowpea and BT cotton, that are resistant to insects and drought with an enhanced yield.
“Biotechnology and its tools have proven to provide spot on solutions to most of the challenges facing agricultural productivity. With biotechnology, we can undertake precision agriculture that brings about increased yields, safe and clean harvest”. he said.
