What farmers must know about approved TELA maize

The federal government recently granted an approval for the environmental evaluation and open cultivation of TELA maize, a new variety developed by its researchers at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The transgenic variety, funded by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), is a major step in tackling problems associated with maize cultivation in the country. […]

The federal government recently granted an approval for the environmental evaluation and open cultivation of TELA maize, a new variety developed by its researchers at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The transgenic variety, funded by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), is a major step in tackling problems associated with maize cultivation in the country.

Unlike other varieties, the TELA maize resists armyworm, stem borers and tolerates moderate drought.

This approval is just to allow the institute take the variety from Confined Field Trials (CFT) to further trials in farmers’ field, where the result would be evaluated and presented before the varietal release committee, who then evaluate the variety before a final approval is given for release to farmers.

This implies that there are two more stages before it finally gets to the hands of farmers: environmental trials on all the agro-ecological and submission to the Varietal Release Committee for approval if everything goes well; and this might take another two years.

This research work has been going on at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for three years and based on confined field trials, the TELA maize variety gave an average of 19 per cent yield advantage relative to similar non-GM, hybrids, and 40 per cent higher yield than the commercial checks under the infestation of stem borer and FAW.

 

Concerns of some stakeholders

The fear of some farmers is centered around the terminator gene, which will make them buy the seed every year. However, the variety does not have terminator gene, which means that it can be replanted; but just like every improved variety, the quality may drop if it is not a certified seed.

Reacting to this concern, Prof Ishiyaku Mohammed, the executive director, Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) said:

“No, not at all. The  IAR will never be part of such inhumane act. Besides, terminator gene has been prohibited internationally for use in products.’

The second concern is in the area of labelling and identification. Professor Mohammed said the Nigerian Biosafety law made it a mandatory requirement for all GM products to be labeled.

Environmentalists have been raising concern over the impact of transgenic crops to biodiversity, something the country’s regulatory agency said it evaluates carefully before approval.

In his submission at the public presentation of TELA maize for commercial release in Abuja, the director-general/chief executive officer of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr Rufus Ebegba, said proper risk assessment and analysis were carried and the NBMA also carried out its own internal review to ensure that the product is safe for human and health and the environment before the permit was granted.

Ebegba also said the agency would not rest on its oars in the bid to ensure that only approved genetically modified organisms are allowed in the country.

 According to the document, “The application for the maize, which was modified for insect resistance and drought tolerance was rigorously examined by two committees, after which their recommendations were made to the agency.

 “This permit authorises the permit holder and persons covered by the permit to commercialise the TELA maize genetically modified for drought tolerance and insect resistance.” 

Researchers say benefit is huge

Prof Rabiu Adamu, the TELA maize principal investigator, said with the deregulation, the institute was permitted to conduct multi-location trials to evaluate the yield and adaptability of the TELA hybrids across the different agro-ecologies in Nigeria.

“The highest yielding hybrids exhibiting tolerance to drought and resistance to stem borer and fall armyworm will be released to farmers for cultivation. We hope to register some of the outstanding hybrids to commercialise through Nigerian seed companies for farmers to grow in the 2023 rainy season,” he said.

Adamu further stated that the deregulation would accelerate the job of the project to avail farmers with transgenic maize to solve the challenges of drought, stem borer, and fall armyworm.

Other benefits, according to the executive director, AATF, Dr Canisius Kanangire, are that TELA maize was coming at a time when farmers are spending so much to reduce insect and pest attacks, as well as battling with the issue of drought.

He said, “With TELA maize, farmers in Nigeria will have relief from frequent constant chemical sprays, which affect their health. The savings from chemical use can be converted to address other family needs.

The approval, he noted, had shown that Nigeria was really the giant leading the way in Africa and ensuring that smallholder farmers benefit from life-changing technologies that have transformed farming in other parts of the globe.

“The approval by the government of Nigeria is a sign that we are making good progress, especially in our quest to expand the options for smallholder farmers on the continent to profit from their labour.

Prof Ishiyaku Mohammed, the executive director of the IAR, said, “This goes to further highlight IAR’s capacity and commitment to providing effective solutions to agricultural problems facing our farmers and optimising food security for Nigerians. The approval will open the way to combating the devastating effects of both drought and insect pests through the deployment of this new variety of maize into our farming system.”

The result of environmental and open trial will allow the institute to seek another approval by the National Variety Release Committee before making the seeds commercially available for farmers to plant in the 2023 cropping season.

The certificate, dated October 8, 2021, with permit code number, NBMA/CM/003, was issued to the IAR for general/commercial release of TELA maize genetically modified for drought tolerance, resistance to stem borer and fall armyworm. 

The TELA maize project in Nigeria is part of an international consortium coordinated by the AATF, involving the Bayer, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), and the National Agricultural Research Systems of seven countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda since 2018.