A leading Nigerian scientist said Friday that genetically modified (GM) crops are the best chance to grow more food here as the climate gets hotter and rains become less reliable.
Prof. Ibrahim Gidado told reporters at an agricultural meeting on Friday that GM varieties can resist drought, pests and some diseases. He said these plants can give farmers bigger harvests with less work and fewer chemicals.
Governments and scientists, he added, must give farmers safe seeds and training.
Gidado and other experts said Nigeria already has research and rules to check safety.
They pointed to lab tests, field trials and a national biosafety system that must approve any new crop before it goes to farms. Supporters say these checks protect people and the land.
As usual, critics are raising concerns and expressing worry about loss of local seeds, higher costs for poor farmers, and outside companies gaining control of food.
Activists and some farmers want clear labels and strong rules to keep traditional seeds and farming knowledge alive.
In answer, scientists say that careful regulation and local seed programs can help reduce those risks and quell those fears.
Experts told the reporters at the meeting that GM crops are not a quick fix.
They said Nigeria must also fix roads, storage, fertilizer supply and security so more food reaches markets.
