Govt Under Pressure to Adopt Genetically Modified Crops
Frederick Asiamah28 March 2011 Pressure is mounting on Ghana to introduce Biotech/GM [Genetically Modified] Crops into its agricultural framework and allow for the production of biotech foods on commercial scale. If Ghana accepts, then she will no longer grow crops like cotton, maize and cowpea or even banana using the traditional farming methods and waiting for the plant to mature through a natural cycle. Rather, through laboratory manipulations "improved varieties" of crops could be developed by shortening the maturity cycle of the plant, as well as, introduced certain "desired traits" such as drought and pest resistance into the plant. The latest call on Ghana to accept GM crops was made last week by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) at the launch of the "Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2010" report authored by Clive James, Founder and Chair of International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (I