Posted on October, 25, 2018 at 11:03 am
THE government has been asked to speed up the review of laws and regulations that govern genetic modified crops, in order to enhance the growth of biotech crops in Tanzania.
The call was made by farmers from various villages when journalists and researchers visited confined field trials of biotech maize in Makutupora ,in Dodoma Region, recently.
Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (Costech) Director General, Dr Amos Nungu, said implementation of genetic modified organism maize seeds in the country depended on the laws and regulations that regulated biotechnology.
“Our main objective is to ensure science and technology benefit members of the public, including farmers, in accordance with laws and regulations.
The government, through the responsible authorities, has to ensure that all laws and regulations are clear in the application of any kind of technology in the country,” he noted.
He pointed out that tested biotech maize seeds were in the final phase and the government would continue ensuring that all laws and regulations were reviewed to allow commercialisation of genetic modified maize seeds to enable farmers benefit from modern technology.
An official from the Prime Minister’s Office (Environment Department), Mr Thomas Chali, said the government recognised the opportunity of utilising biotech crops due to the fact that it had set up a system of managing biotech crops.
“The Tanzanian government recognises the importance of using biotech crops and has allowed researchers to conduct confined field trials in Makutupora in Dodoma Region,” he noted.
Dr Justin Ringo, a senior agricultural research officer, said ongoing confined field trials were in final stages and researchers were optimistic about their positive outcomes.
Source: Daily News