Govt advised against allowing Bt cotton trials in Zambia

Government has been advised against succumbing to demands to conduct trials of genetically modified BT cotton in Zambia.

The Participatory Ecological Land-Use Management (PELUM) Association which is a regional civil society organization working with small scale farmers in Southern and Eastern Africa is urging the Zambian government to be wary that unlike traditional cotton seeds, Bt cotton cannot be recycled.

Speaking at a media briefing held in Lusaka today, PELUM Association board Chairperson Joseph Ssuuna says this entails that Bt cotton pest resistant qualities are likely to result in the development of super-pests.

Mr. Ssuuna says this will thus make it impossible to turn back to growing traditional cotton for farmers who would adopt Bt cotton.