Anti-biotech activists are fond of casting genetically modified (GM) crops as a domain for stinking-rich farmers. They have vainly tried to ingrain in the minds of many that smallholder farmers have nothing to gain from GM crops cultivation.
But a research published last month by Marnus Gouse and Johann Kirsten, both of the University of Pretoria, South Africa, Carl Pray (Rutgers University, U.S.A.), and David Schimmelpfennig (United States Department of Agriculture Research Service), showed that smallholder farmers in South Africa have benefited from genetically modified maize cultivation, just like their large-scale counterparts.
Last week, Mexican researchers published yet another study that will further reinforce the argument that agricultural biotechnology is geared towards poor-resource farmers.
Octavio Guerrero-Andrade of the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV) in Guanajuato and colleagues, in their article in the online edition of Transgenic Research, explain that a gene from the Newcastle disease virus will be inserted into maize DNA. Chicken that eat the genetically modified maize will produce antibodies against the Newcastle disease virus.
There is no doubt that this new maize variety will be a big boon to poultry farmers, especially in developing countries. They will no longer worry about expensive vaccines.
Poultry farming is a common practice in many developing countries. In many rural areas, whole families derive their livelihood from poultry farming. In countries such as Nigeria and South Africa, poultry farming plays an integral role in national development.
This new genetically modified maize, inarguably, will be the most effective and convenient tool to control the Newcastle disease. The existing vaccines for New Castle disease are out of reach of poor farmers. These farmers live on less than a dollar a day. Such income will be hardly enough to buy vaccines. Moreover, such vaccines require refrigeration, yet electricity is non-existent in most rural areas.
Farmers in developing countries must go for the new genetically modified maize. It will definitely boost their income.
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James uses his communication expertise to create awareness about GM food. To read more about him, go to www.gmoafrica.org.
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