Thursday, 15 May 2014

Hybrids instigate cancer, BP, Ministry of Agriculture establish

By Frank Kauteka Tembo

Cases of cancer and other related diseases are said to be on an increase in the country due to over consumption of hybrid seeds and livestock which are mostly associated with chemicals, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has established. 


 The development comes barely Friday during the Field day at Mkombezi Community Seed bank in Rumphi district organized by Biodiversity Conservation Initiative (BCI) under a theme ‘using the farmers’ varieties as one way of achieving food security and seed security in terms of climate change.’

Rumphi District Agricultural Development Officer (DADO) Yaz Nyirenda revealed that over consumption of hybrid seeds and livestock in the country is the major contributing factor of various diseases including cancer and High Blood Pressure due to chemicals associated with it.
Nyirenda expressed concern that a lot of farmers have for so long shunned indigenous crops and livestock and concentrated on hybrids which bring a lot of health hazards due to various chemicals applied on it from the time of planting, harvesting, and storage of crops and throughout the growth period of livestock.

"When we look at our grandparents they are still looking healthier than some of our generation just because at their productive age they did not indulge themselves in foods that would bring havoc in their bodies as such they lived energetic lives because the food they were taking in was nutritious and some were medicinal for various diseases that are striking this generation. 

"To say the truth nowadays we can’t survive from various infections because our bodies are weak simply because we take less nutritious foods which are also contaminated. The imported livestock and crops from the western world have betrayed us due to various chemicals being applied throughout the growth period of crops and animals." Nyirenda explained.

He blamed Malawians’ perceptions that everything from the ‘Whites’ is good a development that has led to the abandonment of local crops, livestock, culture, language among other practices of the indigenous.


He thanked BCI for its Community Based Agricultural Management (CIBAM) project which is bringing back the endangered indigenous crops by fetching and multiplying crops so that everyone should have access to it. 


Speaking with the Executive Director for Biodiversity Conservation Initiative Dr. Godwin Mkamanga said his organization is promoting the local seeds in the country as one way of achieving food security and seed security in terms of climate change as indicated in the theme of the Field day.


“Most of crops grown in Malawi is from local varieties  which are farmers’ varieties and most of them are well adapted in terms of rainfall, temperature and diseases as such farmers are assured of getting high yields at the same time the seeds are free as are kept by farmers themselves. 


Internationally, Malawi is a signatory to the international treaty on plant genetic resources, each country is supposed to keep and conserve these resources thus why we [BCI] also promote them,” he said. 

Dr. Mkamanga added that his organization is not meant to discourage farmers using hybrid seeds but rather encourage farmers to using both varieties if the country has to be food secured.

Senior Chief Mwankhunikira of the area in which BCI is working said the project will not only eradicate hunger but also promote culture of the society.

“Let me congratulate BCI for the initiative of restoring indigenous crops that have been abandoned for long due to the coming of the hybrid seeds which in most cases have led the community astray as they have failed to survive in the local environment.

Most places in Rumphi including Mkombezi experience dry conditions, but we have seen here that local seeds planted with the coming of the project have survived than these hybrids an indication that the community can do it without hybrid crops.

Let me encourage our partner BCI to continue and discover more endangered species of crops   and applaud the organization for involving the youths in the project a sign that the project will progress even if funds dry out as the children are the future generation.” Themba Mwankhunikira articulated.


Mwankhunikira assured BCI that he will work tirelessly to ensure that all village headmen in his area have taken part in the project.

Rumphi district has fourteen Community seed banks that were constructed by Find Your Feet organization funded by the Development Fund of Norway (DF) and BCI has been working with Mkombezi and Chikwawa Community Seed Banks since last year with funding from the same DF.

This year the organization has piloted to other two seed banks namely Baliro and Bolero Community Seed Banks within the district.

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