(Business in Cameroon) - The flagship of the agro-industry in northern Cameroon plans to launch, Société de développement du coton (Sodecoton), will be starting the second phase of research to introduce genetically modified cotton to Cameroon next year. This second phase will last three years and could make GMOs commonplace in Cameroon.
Unlike the first phase, when research was done behind closed doors from 2012, this time, the agro-industrial cotton company will be experimenting with GMOs in an open area. This was the main information revealed at a workshop held by Sodecton from 23rd to 24th October 2014 in garoua to assess the results of the first phase of research on the introduction of GMOs in Cameroon’s cotton cultivation.
The research concluded that the GMO strain currently tested by Sodecton is more robust against herbicides and more resistant to diseases, enabling significantly higher yields. This was indicated by Célestin Klassou, a researcher on the Sodecton project.
Although initial results are encouraging, the Managing Director of Sodecton, Abdou namba, is cautious. “We’re far from the stage of widespread cultivation. The government, via legislation governing this area, has put restrictions in place to prevent breaches. Further experimentation will be necessary to ensure that it is safe for the environment and not a danger to the other varieties of cotton.”
Currently, Sodecoton produces around 230,000 tonnes of cotton per annum and plans to increase this volume by introducing GMOs like in Burkina-Faso where the trials have been very successful for several years.