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Agriculture Minister Dr Joseph Made

THE Zimbabwe government said on Monday it will focus on boosting production of non-gentically modified organisms (GMO) foods as it targets exploiting markets where there is high demand for naturally produced foods.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made told journalists that production and sale of products containing GMOs remained banned in the country.

“This is a cabinet position as it relates to GMOs, that we will not allow the introduction of GMO materials,” Made said.
Made said the government was working on initiatives to increase productivity in the country without resorting to GMOs.

Zimbabwe is facing increasing pressure to allow GMOs in the country due to slumping agricultural production.
In defending the ban on GMOs authorities argue that no conclusive studies have been carried out, especially on their effects on health.

“What matters to us is timeous availability of inputs. Those are the critical matters that will see us increasing production and not GMO material per se,” Made said.
He said seed products from Zimbabwe were in demand in some African countries because they were free GMOs.

Made said the government was working on re-establishing beef exports to the European Union.
The EU banned Zimbabwean beef exports over a decade ago due to disease outbreaks.

“It is not a secret that all beef entering the European market must be GMO free. We are mindful of the fact that there is a niche market that relates to our own beef and we would like to participate in the sector because we are GMO free,” Made said.

He said the government would soon re-establish fences across the country to prevent free movement of animals in a bid to prevent the spread of diseases such as foot and mouth. -New Ziana