Govt approves GM corn seeds to boost crop

LAHORE: Corn  farmers will soon be planting genetically modified seeds that could boost output and cut costs after the government approved GM seed for general use, industry representatives said on Saturday.

Additional economic activity of over Rs100 billion is expected to generate annually due to increase in corn production in the country after commercialisation of new GM varieties. Current approvals will encourage technology providers to invest in Pakistan and bring pipeline products.

The government of Pakistan has taken measures towards improving the economy, food security and the livelihood of its farmers by approving an agricultural technology that will help them produce more using a fewer resources, Dr Muhammad Afzal, executive director of Croplife Pakistan, Aamir Mehmood Mirza, Head of Monsanto Pakistan and Muhammad Asim, chief of regulatory affairs of Monsanto Pakistan, said while talking to newsmen.

CropLife expressed the hope that the government will continue the journey towards technology-driven agriculture to help the farmers, seed industry and the economy of Pakistan.

Earlier, investment by hybrid seed companies in the corn sector has helped increase farmers yield significantly, they said, adding that investment in research and development and farmers education has induced significant yield jumps in Pakistan in the last couple of decades.

Yield increase in spring corn crop has been witnessed by two-and-a-half times, while three-and-a-half times increase has been made in autumn corn due to hybrid seeds, multiplying farmers' income tremendously.

Croplife Pakistan welcomed the recent decision of the Ministry of Climate Change and Ministry of National Food Security and Research to allow farmers to choose genetically enhanced corn seeds that would help them produce better crops and reduce their impact on the environment.

This landmark decision was taken after a rigorous process spread over seven years. It involved extensive regulatory assessments which reaffirmed the safety of a technology that has been successfully grown alongside other crops globally for 20 years.

The approval process involved monitoring of field trials and evaluation of risk assessments submissions by designated committees of the government as required by the country’s bio-safety laws, they said.  The Executive Director of CropLife Pakistan, Dr. Muhammad Afzal, said it is encouraging to see that the present political leadership in Pakistan supports a proven technology to improve the country’s food security and economic development.

“The government’s leadership, he added ensured that Pakistan’s farmers and economy won’t be left behind as more countries across Asia turn to GM technology to feed their growing populations and improve farmer livelihoods. Almost all of the corn, soybeans, canola and cotton GM varieties planted worldwide are demonstrating the value that farmers continue to see in the technology even during tough seasons.

“We should continue to use all the tools at our disposal, including biotechnology, to improve farmers’ lives and to ensure we meet the community’s expectations of producing quality food and fiber in a safe and sustainable way.”

“The government’s approval of insect protected and herbicide tolerant corn seeds will not only boost the corn farmer productivity, it will also encourage future local and international investment in Pakistan’s agricultural sector.

“Farmers globally have embraced GM crops faster than nearly any other technology because it allows them to produce more using fewer resources. A new report reveals that 2 billion hectares of GM crops have been grown globally since its introduction in 1996 which has increased farmer income worldwide by an extraordinary US$150 billion over this time,” he said.

CropLife Pakistan also urged the government to play a proactive role in educating farmers about biotech crops so that Pakistan can quickly benefit from a technology being used by farmers in both developed and developing countries.

Afzal maintained that it is imperative to adopt science-based agriculture at the national level in order to meet the constantly growing food, fiber and fodder demands in Pakistan.

“Pakistan needs coherent policies and a clear implementation strategy to adapt agricultural biotechnology, with a focus on crops which require less water, fewer fertilizers, less pesticides and yield more to feed the growing population as well as to provide raw material for high value exports” concluded.