Agri National

Revamp The Local Seed Industry Instead Of GM Foods – Victoria Adongo

By Richard Dankwa:

The Programs Coordinator of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Mr. Victoria Adongo has questioned the Ministry of Food and Agriculture through the government on why the country was advocating for the adaptation of Genetically Modified Seeds (GMO) instead of revamping the local seed industry in the country.

According to him, if parliament passes the Plant Breeders Bill into law, importing seeds (GMO) from other countries will overshadow the local breeders in the country. She has therefore appealed to the government to re-consider the smallholder farmers in terms of passing the Plant Breeders Bill to regulate the seed industry in the country.

The Plant Breeders Bill which has been in parliament since 3013 among other things, is to ensure a genetic diversity of food crops but has faced strong resistance from farmer groups including the Convention People’s Party and civil society actionists.

Miss Adango said the bill poses security risk and dangers to the survival of farmers. She said if the bill is passed into law, it could also result in the impoverishing and misery of farmers.

‘We are demanding for our right to land, right to our seeds and food systems and also our right to choose whether we want Genetically Modified Seeds or Foods,’ she stressed.

Source: ritefmonline.org

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