Despite being the number one producer of beans in the world, Nigeria spends N16bn annually to import the produce from neighbouring countries, the Federal Government has said.
Speaking at a training for journalists organised by the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa in Abuja on Thursday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Bitrus Bako, said that the recent certification of environmental safety of genetically modified beans would help to bridge the gap in production.
Bako, who was represented by Director, Special Duties, Mr James Sule, gave the assurance that the quality of genetically modified beans expected to be released in 2020 would be safe, nutritious, harmless and insect free.
The National Biosafety Management Agency had recently approved the environmental release of pod bearer resistant beans in the country. This is expected to be followed with a commercial release which would mark the release of the crop for sale and consumption. Read more