Genetically Modified (GM) maize, Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT), safety and effectiveness for better production of quality maize were shown during the BT Maize and Trial Demonstration Day at the Mr and Ms Budha Farm in Bapsfontein recently.
This was part of the trial that the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development partnering with African bio embarked on last year. It exposes the general conventional maize planting small scale farmers to the BT maize, a genetically modified type of crop. This is a model that has caused increasingly loud protests in different parts of the world and has been a subject to sensational media coverage.
Anti-GM groups were formed all over the world and they are worried that genetically engineered insect resistant crops could harm beneficial insects, upsetting ecosystem balances in ways we human beings don't fully understand. Apart from those strong reservations against GM products, South Africa stands firm and supports GM food production.
Africa Bio Agronomist Dr Dave Keetch said “biotechnology is the solution to Africa’s food challenges. Europe does not have a food problem, to them genetically modified food is a political decision whereas in Africa it is a survival issue,” said Dr Keetch.
Also an agronomist at Africa Bio, Johan Roos told small scale farmers that safe use of bio technology can help solve the food problems. “BT maize can increase your production through their resistance to stock borer insects that can destroy half of your harvest. BT maize is the future for better maize production and it only needs to be conducted according to the rules,” said Roos. National Department of Agriculture Registrar Officer Thato Mogapi said that South Africa is subject to the international agreement of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
“All activities related to the genetically modified organism (GMO) are applied to the GMOs' Registrar. The registrar ensures that the application is compliant to the GMO Act before forwarding it to the Advisory Committee that is based in the office of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The Advisory Committee conducts risk assessments and submits the findings to the Executive Council for a decision,” said Mogapi.
Africa Bio Technical Officer Panelope Mahlangu said that BT maize can assist small scale farmers to grow. “They are environmentally friendly and reduce the cost of labour because they don't require spraying of chemicals in order to destroy pests while at the same time they are not harmful to human consumption. Their resistance to stock-borer can increase the production of the farmer immensely. Rampant destruction of stock borer results in some of farmers not even reaping half of what they have planted,” said Mahlangu.
Small-scale farmers from around Gauteng were taken to visit the demonstration maize field. They were shown the conventional maize that has been destroyed by the stock borer and the non-destroyed BT maize.
Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
23 June 2009
Source: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gdace.gpg.gov.za/)
