Lead farmers take part GM cotton trials

Lead farmers in the country will have a chance to try the genetically modified cotton (GM cotton) in their fields next year to see how they can manage the crop, Biotechnology Research team leader Moses Kwapata has confirmed.

The GM cotton has drawn mixed reactions from people with some claiming that Malawi is not ready to handle it but those involved in the trials say the crop is safe and can be planted by any farmer.

Speaking during the harvesting of the trial GM cotton at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture on Friday, Kwapata said the performance of the crop has been very good and cotton farmers have all the reasons to be optimistic of trying this crop next year.

Said Kwapata: “We have tried this crop for two years now. The first trials were at Luanar before we were given the go ahead to try it in the cotton growing districts of Salima, Balaka, Chikwawa and Zomba. We failed to go to Karonga due to logistical problems but next year, we hope to take the crop to lead farmers.”

He said the last trials in all the centres where the crop has been tested will be done next year and after that the crop will be given to lead farmers in the cotton growing districts of the country.

“It is the Biotechnology Committee requirement that we conduct the trials three times before we take the crop top farmers and we will do just that next year. We are very happy with what we have seen in the field because GM cotton will reduce the amount of pesticides to be used by farmers by almost three quarters,”said Kwapata.

According to Kwapata they have spent about $90 000 to conclude this year’s GM cotton trials.

Environmental officer in the Department of Environmental Affairs, Joana Chikafa, said they are satisfied with the way the trials have been conducted by Luanar.

“We are very impressed with what we have seen in all the field trials because all the set procedures were followed,” said Chaikafa.