Ban GMOs Now- HOMEF, Farmers Tell Akwa Ibom Government
By Ekemini Simon
Farmers at Uyo Afaha Nkan in Ikono local government area of Akwa Ibom State and Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) have called on the Government of Akwa Ibom State to ban the use of Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs) due to their environmental, health and economic hazards.
They asked the Government of Akwa Ibom State not to allow GMOs seedlings, food crops or packaged food to be allowed into the State due to its dangers.
The call was made on Monday, January 27, 2025 during a one-day farmers training on Agroecology organized by Health of Mother Earth Foundation at Uyo Afaha Nkan in Ikono local government area.
In her presentation, Director of Programmes, Health of Mother Earth Foundation Joyce Brown said Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria by extension does not need GMOs to address food insecurity explaining that the design of those crops does not support local economic growth but rather promotes dependency on corporate seed supply.
She said when GMOs are allowed to be ingrained in the agriculture system of the State, farmers will gradually depend on the GMOs seed as it will destroy other seedlings and farmers will no longer find seedlings to cultivate.
She added ” Those that produce these GMOs want it that before you can plant, you must meet them and buy from them. Sadly, this can be used as an issue of control because when you rely on GMOs, it may be used to force the government to do the bidding of these people who seek control.
Brown said a number of African countries like Malawi and Uganda including Russia in Europe have already placed a ban on GMOs due to the danger it holds.
While noting that it may be difficult for farmers to distinguish GMOs from hybrid seedlings besides laboratory tests, the Programmme Director charged farmers to always seek clarification on the type of seedlings they receive anytime it is shared by either government or organizations.
Brown also cautioned the farmers against the use of inorganic fertilizer and chemical pesticides.
She said a recent study had revealed that more than 80 percent of chemicals used in farms are among Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHP) while seven out of the 13 chemicals used in producing them are found to cause cancer.
Brown also said that due to the prevalence of the use of HHP in Nigerian farms, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in its recent report said that 60 percent of food exported from Nigeria to Europe and other Western Countries are rejected because of the pesticides that remain in Nigeria food.
On their part, farmers from Uyo Afaha Nkan, Ikono called on the Government of Akwa Ibom State to ban GMOs noting that it potentiates danger for them.
They noted that they have used both bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides and have seen that it has increased their yield just like the chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
According to the Village Head of the area, Chief Christopher Umoh, “After we were trained on how to produce organic fertilizer and organic pesticides in November 2023, as a farmer, I have gone back and produced them myself. I have seen its merit on my maize and Pepper. They yield bountifully and I am determined to continue using them instead of the inorganic ones.”
The Village Head also said he would not want GMOs to be brought to his community owing to its dangers. He called on the Government of Akwa Ibom State to ban GMOs in the State.
Earlier, while taking farmers on the practical session on how to produce bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers, the Farm Manager, Be the Help Foundation, Chukwu Agozirim said that his organization has used the organic fertilizer and pesticide produced locally across farms in the country with result of high and safer yield.
He said with the locally available items for the production of pesticide and fertilizer, it was safer and cost effective for farmers to adopt the new approach to farming.
He called on the government to immediately stop the importation of inorganic pesticides and fertilizers as that is causing more issues to farmers and also unsafe for the environment.