Farmers of corn growing areas have reiterated their demand with the government to approve genetically modified corn for commercial plantation in Pakistan as this technology seems to have the potential to reduce the losses caused by various insects and weeds that in turn result in increasing the production of corn crop.
Farmers belonging to Sahiwal, Pakpatan, Arifwala, Mian Channu and Vehari made this demand during their visit to a field trial site in Yusafwala, Sahiwal where Monsanto is showcasing its genetically modified corn product to provide all the stakeholders especially farmers an opportunity to practically witness the latest agricultural technologies and innovations.
On the occasion, Monsanto Pakistan's Technology Development Officer Asif Nazir, while briefing the farmers, said that biotechnology is the fastest adopted crop technology in the world, adding that Pakistan can increase the productivity of various crops by embracing this revolutionary technology. He informed the farmers that Monsanto had completed the field trials of the product and now they are just awaiting government's nod for commercial release of the product in the country. "We (Monsanto) have submitted our application to the official body-National Biosafety Committee-for approving commercial release of our GM corn product in Pakistan and would hand over this technology to you (farmers) as soon as we get go-ahead from NBC," said Asif Nazir. The farmers said that agriculture is the backbone of country's economy so bringing improvement in this sector is imperative for development, adding that latest technology would certainly play a key role in this regard. "Some of us (farmers) did not have much knowledge about biotech crops earlier but now, after practically seeing the GM corn field, we have learnt a lot about biotechnology and are sure that crop biotechnology has the potential to deliver in Pakistan," remarked Chaudhry Tahir Mahmood, a progressive farmer from Sahiwal.
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