Researches on the shelves of laboratories in Nigeria

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Written by Baraka Bashir

In its bid to transform Nigerian economy, present administration under the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan has initiated some developmental agenda in various economic sectors among which, of course is agriculture. Government stressed determination to wipe out corruption in the process of fertilizer and seeds distribution to farmers.

In 1960s, agriculture was the main stay of the country’s revenue before the discovery of oil. Nigeria was identified as one of the leading producer and exporter of palm kennel, groundnut and a good variety of cow pea species then. But things, have since turned upside down as the country now depend largely on imported farm produce to feed it’s exploding population.

Though Nigeria was endowed with vast arable land that can be used to harness various agricultural potentials to feed the entire nation and export excess to the global market, yet these potentials are just being under utilized due to poor funding and research among others.

Recently, a bio-safety bill is waiting for the Nigerian president to accent it into a law, to offer researchers in the country full opportunity to conduct their research work and apply the result in the nation’s agriculture, hinders the activities of farmers .

According to a professor of biotechnology and cowpea producer, Mohammad ishiyaku from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria during an interactive with newsmen, while researchers in the country put in their best to carry out research, results of their works are being enjoyed by some people other than Nigerians.

Who would these people be? But Ghanaians, whom benefit more from the results and end product of cowpeas seeds being produce by the researchers in Nigeria

The most disturbing issue is why some people will be gaining at the expense on Nigerians? How can this imbalance be checked, the answer according to Nigerian scientist is for Mr. President to assent to the bio-safety bill into law to give researchers and farmers a headway on boosting their farm produce, as undoubtedly no research indicated that genetically modified crops are harmful in whatsoever way to human health

During the interactive organized by an NGO B4FA at the institute of agriculture, Prof. Ishiyaku informed that the institute, in partnership with some international organizations developed pest-resistant cowpeas to be used in 2015 by our farmers.

He said the partnership has successful developed cowpeas seeds with a good judgment to resistance against Maruca, an insect that has been linked to over 80% reduction in yields, but with the new innovation of genetic engineering these problems will soon be over.

He noted that Nigeria is ranked as the highest producer of cowpeas in sub-sahara, while on the world food index the country ranked as 80^th with the production capacity of consumption level alone, and even with that the crops are mostly affected by maruca insects.

Professor Ishiyaku believed that if the country is unable to pass the bio-safety law within a limited period of time, no doubt their efforts will continue to remain on the shelves of their laboratories.

While countries like Ghana will forever enjoy the benefit of their research.

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