Young Farmers Association Calls For Adoption Of GMO Crops In Imo …Says They Are Nutritious, Cure Cancer

By Ikenna Orioha…

The Secretary of Young Farmers Association of Imo State, Barr. James Remond, has stated that the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Crops which yield more are very nutritious, cure diseases such as cancer and hence improve health of people who adopt, as well as consume them.

He stated this during a One Day Road March for Science, held in Owerri, on Saturday.

The GMO Crops Advocacy Road March for Science which was organized by Young Farmers Association of Imo State in conjunction  with Global Initiative for Youth Advancement for Peace Nigeria and Students of Agriculture, Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Microbiology, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), was richly participated by members of Young Farmers Association and FUTO students.

James Remond, an active farmer, who explained that GMO Crops are plants whose DNA has been changed with genetic engineering techniques and allows the introduction of new traits, such as pest resistance or improved nutrition, highlighted that GMO Crops have rich benefits.

He therefore advised consumers to always ignore the falsehood being spread by rumor mongers across the state about the Gene Editing GMO Crops, but accept and adopt the GMO Crops, patronize their products, as they have rich and nourishing benefits clearly proven by a thorough academic research scientists in biotechnology, biochemistry,  microbiology and agriculture in FUTO specially carried out.

“We edit the gene of crop to get the expected yield from that particular plant. People spread falsehood about the Gene Editing GMO Crops. We are Science Students, by a research we carried out, we discovered that GMO Crops in the Market are already generally modified, they improve good health, help to control cancer and other diseases”, he stressed.

He added that GMO Crops increase crop yields which can be engineered to be more resilient to pests and diseases, improve nutrition, can thrive in water-scarce conditions.

A microbiologist, farmer and member of Young Farmers Association of Imo State, Uzoho Ifeanyi John, affirmed that there are plants that cannot naturally survive, but can only survive when they are genetically modified, urging people to imbibe GMO Crops to have better yield and improved health.

Uzoho outlined the types of GMO Crops to include Bt Corn (a specie corn that resists certain pests), Golden Rice (which is enriched with Vitamin A to fight deficiency).