Tanzania President Wants GMOs Taken Aboard

Tanzania's President, His Excellency Jakaya Kikwete has called for change of negative mindset on the adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) technology in the country. He challenged scientists in the country to conduct research to establish the practicality of the technology to enable the government to act accordingly. Noting that as long as there are no proven major negative impacts, he saw no logic in opposing the application of the technology as the government embarks on various plans to modernize agriculture and farming methods.

The president made the remarks when he visited Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday. Mr Kikwete also challenged the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives to open up employment opportunities for young scientists.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Eng. Christopher Chiza, said that nothing could be achieved in agriculture without deploying biotechnology in the farming system. Earlier when briefing the delegates, the institute's head, Dr Joseph Ndunguru, said that it is mandated to conduct and promote research for the development of the coconut sub sector and tree crop-based farming and system along the coastal belt of Tanzania.

See original story at http://allafrica.com/stories/201303200129.html. For more details contact Nicholas Nyange at nicholasnyange@yahoo.com.