ABUJA – (Federal Ministry of Science & Technology Report) – The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu (Dr) has launched the transgenic cotton seed on Monday November 19, 2018 in Abuja. While speaking on the issue in a Press Briefing, he intensified that the introduction of new cotton seeds will boost the economy by giving birth to more Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the production of cotton seedlings and its by-products.
Ogbonnaya Onu noted that the new cotton seedlings will also result in higher yields and better pest-resistant varieties, bemoaning the steady decline in the textile industry in the country over the years. He averred that the Federal Government is determined to achieve a higher cotton yield to feed the nation’s textile mills. Adding, the Federal Government would apply Science and Technology to process and apply the yields of cotton to the products needed by Nigerians, so as to help fight extreme poverty and increase the earnings of the country.
“We want all our research institutions to work together to achieve our common goal, to deliver special services to our people. The Ministry would support any further research to ensure food security in Nigeria,” he hinted.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh informed that for Nigeria to make the needed progress among the comity of nations, there should be a synergy among Research Institutes, the Industries and Universities. He commended the scientists involved in the new endeavour and praised them for developing pest-resistant hybrid cotton from local seeds.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Bako Nabasu in his remarks espoused that Nigeria has reached the stage for sufficiency in the textile industry and has set the stage for global pride in the textile and garments industry. He further reverred the hybrid seed as being high yielding and tolerant, insisting that the Government will ensure that the cotton yield is made available and affordable to farmers.
