This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English AgricultureReport.
For three days last week, West African leaders and governmentministers met in Burkina Faso to discuss agricultural technology.Members of the Economic Community of West African States came toOuagadougou, the capital, to discuss several issues. But the mainsubject was genetically engineered crops.
Some leaders said they support the idea in general. They wantproof that such crops are safe for people and the environment.
The president of Mali, Amadou Toumani, told the conference thatprogress requires new technology. But he said the leaders must becareful, because they also have a duty to their people to keep foodsafe.
The government of Burkina Faso and the American State Departmentorganized the Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology.Burkina Faso is one of the poorest nations in West Africa.
Last year, it also became the first West African nation to begintesting genetically engineered crops. The American company Monsantoplanted cotton designed to protect against insects. Cotton isBurkina Faso’s main export crop.
The president of Niger, Mamadou Tandja, expressed interest in thepossibilities of genetically engineered crops. But he said he wantsAfricans to have the finances and training needed to use suchproducts.
President Tandja said he hopes that Niger can restart its cottonindustry with genetically engineered cotton. He said his country maycooperate with Burkina Faso.
The president of Ghana, John Kufuor, said Africa is losing itsfertile land because of traditional farming methods andoverproduction. He too expressed support for biotechnology.
The president of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore, said testing suchcrops is like testing new medicines. Mister Compaore said safety isalways a concern. But he says it is important for Africa to use newtechnology that meets the needs of its people.
Some non-governmental organizations, however, say geneticallyengineered crops are not the answer to food shortages in Africa.They say transportation and water projects would be more useful.
They also say that such crops could force African farmers todepend on big companies for seed. Some groups are even calling for afive-year ban on genetically engineered crops in Africa.
This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by MarioRitter. This is Steve Ember.