. . . [Nigeria could see] the production of the first set of Genetically Modified cotton also known as Bt cotton in 2019.
The decision to deploy the technology in spite of the long . . .controversy . . . was taken after a careful and extensive examination of the sorry state of cotton production in the country.
About 40 years ago, Nigeria was rated as one of the cotton destinations in the world . . . but that reputation has been replaced with an abysmal record . . .
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Textile industries which used to be one of the largest employers of labour in both northern and southern Nigeria are today under lock and key due to lack of raw materials. . . .
As scientists and government agencies collaborate to solve the challenges that had plagued the crop . . . civil society organisations and media practitioners led a campaign calling for [preventing] Monstanto. . . from entering Nigeria.
Related on the SLP
The company was recently granted the approval to . . . [lead]. . . the efforts to introduce genetically modified cotton into the country.
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. . . [T]he . . . permit . . . means that the company can . . . work with collaborating research institutions . . . for the development of cotton seeds that can resist insects. . . but not to trade in GM seeds or products.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Do we need GM cotton?
