GM corn to generate Rs100 billion additional economic activity

The recently approved genetically modified corn seeds will be available to farmers soon.The increase in corn production in Pakistan after the genetically modified corn varieties are planted will result in over Rs100 billion of additional economic activity, industry representatives said."The recent government's approval to insect-protected and herbicide-tolerant corn is a landmark decision.GM corn would not only help boost the productivity of corn but will also enhance the confidence of responsible technology providing companies, both local and foreign, to make furtherinvestment Pakistan's under-performing agricultural sector," Dr Muhammad Afzal, executive director of Croplife Pakistan, said while talking to newsmen here at a local hotel.Aamir Mehmood Mirza, Head of Monsanto Pakistan, and Muhammad Asim, chief of regulatory affairs of Monsanto Pakistan were alsopresent on the occasion.The GM corn approval decision was taken after a rigorous process spread over seven years, CropLife executive director informed. "It involved extensive regulatory assessments which reaffirmed the safety of a technology that has beensuccessfully grown alongside other crops globally for 20 years.The approval process involved monitoring of field trials and evaluation of risk assessments submissions by designated committees of the government as required by the country's Biosafety laws," he added.Dr Muhammad Afzal further said it is encouragingto see that the present political leadership in Pakistan supports a proven technology to improvethe country's food security and economic development. The government's leadership, he added, ensured that Pakistan's farmers and economy won't be left behind as more countries across Asia turn to GM technology to feed their growing populations and improve farmer livelihoods.Almost all of the corn, soybeans, canola and cotton GM varieties planted worldwide are demonstrating the value that farmers continue to see in the technology even during tough seasons, he said."We should continue to use all the tools at our disposal, including biotechnology, to improve farmers' lives and to ensure we meet the community's expectations of producing quality food and fiber in a safe and sustainable way," he stressed. "Farmers globally have embraced GM crops faster than nearly any other technology because it allows them to produce more using fewer resources.A new report reveals that 2 billion hectares of GM crops have been grown globally since its introduction in 1996 which has increased farmer income worldwide by an extraordinary US$150 billion over this time," Dr. Muhammad Afzal said.CropLife also urged the government to play a proactive role in educating farmers about biotech crops so that Pakistan can quickly benefit from a technology being used by farmers in both developed and developing countries.Dr. Muhammad Afzal maintained that it is imperative to adopt science-based agriculture at the national level in order to meet the constantly growing food, fiber and fodder demands in Pakistan."Pakistan needs coherent policies and a clear implementation strategy to adapt agricultural biotechnology, with a focus on crops which require less water, fewer fertilizers, less pesticides and yield more to feed the growing population as well as to provide raw material for high value exports" he added.CropLife Pakistan (CLP) is an organization which represents the Plant Science Industry. CLP was established in 1968. CLP is member of CropLife Asia, the Regional Association of CropLife International.CropLife promotes approaches that enhance sustainable agriculture in the interests of farmers, consumers and the environment and is committedto supporting the safe and responsible use of the industry's products in order to provide a secure, varied, healthy and affordable diet for consumers.News SourceNews Collated byPAKISSAN.comCourtesy Daily Times