The experts made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
GMOs are genetically modified organisms such as an animal, plant or microbe whose Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNAs) have been altered using genetic engineering techniques.
An agriculture communication expert, Dr Ismail Olawale, said GMOs information should be well communicated to avoid wrong perspectives of the technology.
“As regards GMO crops, sometimes stories about them are picked from the wrong perspectives.
“If there are contentions with GMOs or any biotechnological agriculture practice, then it should be communicated for the understanding of farmers.
“GMOs should be communicated in such a way that will be put in the right perspective for the end users, which are farmers.
“This will enhance sustainable adoption of GMO crops locally.
“This will also help farmers understand the dos and don’ts of GMOs; with this understanding, if any farmer wants to adopt it, then they will adopt it responsibly and sustainably.’’
He said there should be an all participatory communication strategy on GMOs before adoption.
“There is a misconception that farmers are being told lies about GMOs; it must be well communicated,” he said.
On his part, Mr Omotunde Banjoko, an agriculture analyst, said so much dependence should not be placed on GMOs to the detriment of locally grown seeds.
“The concern we have about GMO seeds is that they cannot be replanted, the farmer has to buy afresh for cultivation anytime.
“This is unlike traditional seeds where you can replant the crops from your harvest; with GMOs, the farmer has to go back to the seed producers from time to time to buy the seeds.
“These seeds are also imported into the country; this means that we will be dependent on a country for food and at some point our local seeds would have gone into extinction.’’
Banjoko further reiterated the need for preservation of local seeds as it was not wise to depend 100 per cent on any country for seeds for cultivation.
“Another concern is that the seed importation will be Forex driven which now begins to put more pressure on the Naira.
“With GMO seeds, the implication is that the cost of production for the average farmer will also increase; this will, in turn, cause more farmers to leave the already ailing sector.
“GMOs should be well researched and discussed before we push for its adoption.
“Instead of GMO seeds, hybrid seedlings are more beneficial to us; hybrid seedlings involve the crossbreeding of two different seeds,” he said. (NAN)
