The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria has concluded arrangements to commence a test run of Agricultural Radio and Television in Abuja, the nation’s capital before the end of the month.

Prof. Garba H. Sharubutu, the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, made the revelation in Abuja recently, saying the aim is to stream all activities and research findings to farmers in rural areas.

Sharubutu also said, “government set up the council, with the purpose of improving indigenous crops and to propagate institutes’ results concerning agriculture and how genetically modified crops can get to the farmers.”
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The Executive Secretary acknowledged Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology and other agencies for the tremendous works on genetically modulated products, making them reach end users, Nigerian farmers.

He argued that though genetic modification is capital intensive, government and corporate bodies needed to be involved from the laboratory to the consumers to make the crops safe for animals, humans and the environment.

Also, Prof. Rabiu Adamu of Institute of Agricultural Research, Zaria said there are over 12 million crop farmers in the country, and they should be carried along for them to deploy modern agricultural biotechnology for food security.

Adamu declared: “GM crops have come to stay in Nigeria. So, it is the responsibility of both private and public sector to key into the technological advances that would trigger the plant transformation to achieve specific needs and to increase the gross domestic product.”
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