SEPTEMBER 2018 SEEDWORLD.COM / 73 This development means farmers can now access bio- tech cotton seeds in addition to other conventional varie- ties once the permit holder multiplies the registered varie- ties. Nigeria also becomes the seventh African country after South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Kenya, Malawi and Ethiopia to grant open cultiva- tion approval for the crop. Speaking at the official announcement in Ibadan, committee chairman chief Oladosun Awoyemi exuded confidence that the approval and registration of the GM cotton varieties will revolution- ize agricultural development in the country as it leads to adoption of GM technology. Both varieties were developed by Mahyco Nigeria Private Ltd., in collaboration with the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) director general, Rufus Ebegba, hailed the develop- ment as a victory for Nigeria and Africa. “African biosafety regulators need courage and knowledge to act in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence, despite threats from those who refused to believe in the efficacy of safe science and technology,” Ebegba says. Director general of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) Alex Akpa noted the registered varieties are highly viable compared to the local conventional alternative and are capable of produc- ing 4.1 to 4.4 tons per hectare against the local variety’s 600 to 900 kg per hectare. “With this development, Nigeria has demonstrated that it has the institutional capacity and human resources to safely deploy genetic engineering in the agricultural sector,” Akpa says. According to Rose Gidado, country coordinator of Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB), the official registra- tion opens a new dawn for Nigeria as the country’s cotton production will boomingly increase signalling a return to cotton production. “With the new varieties, farmers will have access to quality seeds subsequently recording over 50 percent profit. The country’s tex- tile industry will also be revamped,” Gidado says. —Source: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri- biotech Applications. STATUS PHILIPPINES The Philippine Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry green lights the con- duct of public consultations on the proposed field trials for GR2E Golden Rice. The public consultation process is a significant com- ponent of biosafety regula- tory approval under the Joint Department Circular No. 1 series of 2016. The consul- tation process comprises public information sheet postings in accessible com- munity locations, a 30-day public comment period and a public hearing. This provides community members with the opportunity to partici- pate responsibly in a critical biosafety decision-making process. Public consultations were held July 18 and July 19 in two different locations. Together with PhilRice, the International Rice Research Institute is developing high- yielding inbred local rice varie- ties with the beta-carotene producing GR2E Golden Rice trait. A complementary, food- based solution to vitamin A deficiency, Golden Rice is undergoing the regulatory process in Bangladesh. Earlier this year, GR2E Golden Ric, received positive food and safety assessments from three leading regulatory agencies: Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. —Source: International Rice Research Institute. STATUS RWANDA Three stakeholders in agricul- ture inked a $2.2 million deal, or 1.9 billion Rwandi francs, meant for the production of local quality hybrid maize seeds, as well as facilitating farmers to access them. The stakeholders include One Acre Fund Tubura, Western Seed Company and Agro Processing Industries. This seed multiplication activity will be done in the Eastern Province over an area of 400 hectares (about 988 acres), shares Eric Pohlman, director of One Acre Fund. During the signing of the deal, Patrick Karangwa, the director general for the Rwanda Agriculture Board, said Rwanda supports seed multiplication by stakeholders. It is going to enable the coun- try to satisfy its seed demand rather than importing and reaching farmers late. “Having these stakeholders in local seed multiplication is a good thing because Rwanda has been paying more than $5.7 million to import maize seeds, soya and wheat with maize seed being the most common,” Karangwa says. “Farmers had problems get- ting seeds on time or com- plaining about the quality of the seed variety imported in the country that might not be suitable for our climate or soil. “Seeds may also have certain infections but the fact that seeds will be multiplied here is going to put an end to all of those issues.” Pohlman says about 600 tonnes of pilot seeds are expected to be multi- plied in Nyagatare District of the Eastern Province in September. At first, in partnership with Western Seed Company and Agro processing agreed that in September 2018, 600 tonnes will be multiplied over an area of 400 hectares. “Afterwards, the quantity will be increased to about 2,000 tonnes whereas the whole project will require an invest- ment of 1.9 billion Rwandi francs.” —Source: Taarifa. SW