Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) said that the confined field trial of Tela maize is well undergoing in two agricultural research centers.
The institute has been undertaking restricted field trial of Tela maize, genetically modified cereal in Melkasa and Bako research centers after getting permission from Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission, Tadesse Daba (PhD) EIAR Agricultural Biotechnology Director told The Ethiopian Herald.
It is a confined trial where each seeds of the crop pass through trial and the waste will be burnt. The trial that has been conducting for two years has shown a better progress, he noted.
The trial in Melkasa center is to test whether or not the cereal type resist drought in Ethiopia as the place where the center located is known for absence of moisture in the soil, he said.
On the other hand, the Bako center trial is mainly intended to evaluate the pest (specially the stem borer) resistant capacity of the maize, he stated.
“Accordingly, we had obtained commendable result last year and we are undertaking the next process of the trial this budget year.”
As to him, Tela maize seed is made up of two genes composed of two bacteria including bacillus subtilis and bacillus thuringiensis to enable the maize to be resistant for drought and pests.
“Maize is a vulnerable crop to about nine pest species regardless of other diseases. Such hinders bring a highest reduction in the production of the crop across the globe.”
Therefore, genetically modified maize has been provided by world researchers as a solution to such yield reducing problems and Tela is the output of these efforts, as to Tadesse.
It is internationally recognized procedure to modify crops with gene mixture as the developed world always working on that and it is gaining increment in production. For example, USA uses such modified maize types and it is the leading nation in the world with maize productivity, he underlined.
In addition, other nations including Brazil and Argentina apply the technology for more productivity, he expressed.
“Therefore, it is significant to apply the technology and we have no doubt on that and the trials are reflecting this fact. But, it is important to check whether this fruitful crop types work in our country condition or environment. That’s why the trials are being conducted.”
The Tela Maize is a project led by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation in five African countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania, Tadesse said.
He disclosed that by resisting drought and pests the new maize will have a capacity to significantly increase Ethiopia’s corn productivity that currently lays at eight million tons per year. The crop is also a livelihood of over 10 million Ethiopian households.
Therefore, the country has a better capacity to increase maize yield per hectare compared to the countries that are part of the project, according to the Director.
Tela Maize is the brand name for genetically modified (GM) maize hybrids developed by the Tela Maize Project. The Project is a public-private partnership that is working towards initiating commercialization of transgenic drought-tolerant and insect-protected maize varieties to enhance food security in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Ethiopian Herald September 10/2019
BY YOHANES JEMANEH
