In this episode of Farmer’s Inside Track, we look at the benefits of biotechnology and how trials showcase the potential. For farmers, indirect advantages of adopting biotechnology include increased crop yields due to reduced crop losses and damage, higher farmer incomes and livelihoods, the use of fewer resources, and greater flexibility in managing weeds and pests.
These successes, however, don’t apply equally to smallholder farmers in every region of South Africa.
Lesley Mabasa, a representative of Mega Biotech Solutions, a service provider appointed by CropLife SA to coordinate and implement biotech maize demonstration trials, tells us more.
Seeing is believing
Mabasa explains that trials are established for demonstration purposes to showcase the potential of biotechnology crops and how beneficial the technology can be.
“In 2022 and 2023 during the maize planting season, CropLife established demo trials to showcase the benefits of biotechnology. It is a dual technology with pest control for maize stalk borer, and herbicide-tolerant crops for weed control for small-scale farmers in the Limpopo province,” he says.
Mabasa explains that adopting the technology is easy once farmers see results. Another reason for trials is to assess the feasibility and viability of the technology. It helps farmers to make informed decisions based on their trial experience.
There are different types of trials for different purposes. Smallholder farmers are targeted because they are poorly resourced in most cases.
“It matters where trials are planted. For example, if you want to plant drought-tolerant maize for demo trials, the demo trials will be established in areas where drought is a challenge to crop production,” Mabasa explains.
On the other hand, it is pointless to plant drought-tolerant maize under irrigation because the trial will not issue the correct results.
In this episode, Mabasa also discusses:
- Exposure to technology; and
- Facing challenges.
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ALSO READ: Exploring the ins and outs of plant biotechnology
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