For two years, groups of farmers have been testing the PBR [pod borer resistant]-cowpea; they are thrilled with the product in Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso.
…
Continuing their ignominious attack on PBR-cowpea, the authors of [an anti-GM] report on GM cowpea accused the research team of PBR-cowpea of having a reductionist approach because only one constraint, the legume pod borer, is being addressed whereas there are many other pests, diseases, and abiotic factors that reduce cowpea yields.
Thus, in their narrow understanding of agricultural research, the PBR-Cowpea project must address all the diseases, insect pests and weed problems affecting cowpea, as well as drought and soil fertility at the same time. This is like saying to a research medical doctor who has a project on finding a new cure to malaria that his/her work is worthless because the other killer diseases affecting people and poverty reduction measures are not included.
The development of a vibrant domestic commercial agricultural system is an imperative; otherwise African countries will continue their massive imports of basic food, and will not have extra money to invest in other vital sectors of the economy.
[Editor’s note: This is part five of a series. Read part one, part two, part three and part four here.]
