Non-traditional crops such as banana, cassava, ginger, plantain, potatoes and yams can play an integral role in the enhancement of food security, especially in Africa and other parts of the world that suffer perennial food shortage. In most poor resourced communities, non-traditional crops are a gem of invaluable importance.
Unfortunately, most countries lack government backed strategic plans to further develop these crops. Non-traditional crops hardly feature in such countries’ national research agenda. When it comes to formulating agricultural policies, they’re relegated to the backstage. This is unacceptable at a time when more and more people are going to bed hungry.
Poor countries now ought to re-examine their agricultural policies with a view of integrating non-traditional crops into their farming systems. Non-traditional crops are as important as any other crop to poor countries’ economies.
Budgetary allocation to research on non-traditional crops must be doubled two or threefold. Such research must address how to eradicate or prevent common diseases in addition to increasing their yields.
Scientists in developed countries are already making good progress in this field. Last week, for example, two scientists from Ohio State University, United States, announced that they have developed genetically modified cassava (Manihot esculenta) plants that are more than two-and-half times the size of normal cassava roots.
The two researchers, Richard Sayre and Holly Wagner used a gene from bacterium E. coli to genetically modify cassava plants. This new cassava variety, according to these two researchers, is up to 2.6 fold larger than the roots of a non-modified plant.
“The modified plants produced a maximum of 12 roots, compared to the seven roots produced by the non-modified plant,” note Sayre and Wagner in their study published in the online issue of the Plant Biotechnology Journal.
This is good news. About 250 millions Africans – 40 per cent of the continent’s population - use cassava as their primary source of food. These figures underscore the importance of cassava to the African continent.
This new genetically modified cassava will help alleviate hunger in many African countries.
Every effort, then, must be put to ensure that genetically modified cassava reaches every corner of the African continent. Farmers need it and it should be made available to them as soon as possible.
About the Author:
James uses his communication expertise to create awareness about GM food. To read more about him, go to http://www.gmoafrica.org
A New Genetically Modified Cassava in the Offing
