Zimbabwe could save $60 million per year by adopting GMO maize

Zimbabwe could be losing up to $60 million worth of maize output a year due to failure to adopt new plant breeding varieties resistant to the maize stalk borer, a pest that reduces yields on the country’s major staple, a prominent local crop scientist has said.

Dr Ian Robertson, a Harare-based crop expert . . . [said] that the maize stalk borer has caused farmers to suffer losses of about 10 percent of the country’s output.

. . . .“Every year $60 million goes into the mouth of the stalk borer and yet we could easily harness Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). . . to provide protection from damaging insects such as the maize stalk borer.

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“I find it extremely disappointing that our Government is blocking this . . . technology that could enhance our food security and cut our import bill for maize.”

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We have an excellent pool of crop scientists who can do the work. We are saying to the government remove the ban and support us to do the work.”