Categories: Stories

Made says GMO ban to stay in place

The uncertainty surrounding the effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on human health and the environment makes it imperative for Zimbabwe to be cautious and keep them out of the food and feed chains, agriculture minister Joseph Made said yesterday.

Zimbabwe maintains a ban on the importation of GMOs, including seeds, which are cheaper than organic crops which it says are a threat to health and national food security.

“Genetic modification is a relatively new technology and it is difficult to tell what the long term effects would be from eating foods produced from GM crops,” Made told a parliamentary committee on science and technology.

“Most developing countries do not have the means to produce GM foods or monitor their impact on the environment.”

Made said introducing GMOs would create pesticide resistant crops which would force conventional crop growers to turn to more toxic pesticides.

“Zimbabwe continues to achieve high genetic yields of crops using conventional crop improvement and it is important to invest in key agricultural drivers (inputs, irrigation and mechanization) for increased productivity and production using the currently available genetics,” he said.

Most African countries continue to maintain a cautious approach towards GMOs, with only South Africa embracing them.- The Source

(503 VIEWS)

This post was last modified on %s = human-readable time difference 1:28 pm

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

ZiG loses steam, falls against US dollar for five consecutive days

The Zimbabwe Gold fell against the United States dollar for five consecutive days from Monday…

November 22, 2024

Indian think tank says Starlink is a wolf in sheep’s clothing

An Indian think tank has described Starlink, a satellite internet service provider which recently entered…

November 18, 2024

ZiG firms against US dollar for 10 days running but people still do not have confidence in the currency

Zimbabwe’s new currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), firmed against the United States dollars for 10…

November 16, 2024

Zimbabwe among the top countries with the widest gap between the rich and poor

Zimbabwe is among the top 30 countries in the world with the widest gap between…

November 14, 2024

Can the ZiG sustain its rally against the US dollar?

Zimbabwe’s battered currency, the Zimbabwe Gold, which was under attack until the central bank devalued…

November 10, 2024

Will Mnangagwa go against the trend in the region?

Plans by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa to…

October 22, 2024