Reducing Risks and Improving Safe Use of Agricultural Biotechnology Products through Participatory Technology Development.

The emergence of modern biotechnology has invoked a major global controversy over the future of world agriculture. The debates surrounding this controversial issue have often reflected the interests of developed countries and paid little attention to the needs of developing countries, especially those needs related to food requirements of low-income populations. Biotechnology though, can make life better for the poor in developing countries by producing higher than usual yields with less input, better rotations to conserve natural resources and improve resistance to diseases and pest infestations. It clearly can solve agricultural problems that traditional technology either cannot solve or can solve in a finer better costly manner. Although, perceptions of risks associated with the development and use of agricultural biotechnology products exist, these risks and fears could be reduced, allayed and even viewed in a balanced way through participatory, problem solving approach, involving various agricultural development practitioners. This paper thus argues that participatory technology development involving farmers in research and extension could be what is needed to solve the problems associated with biotechnology development. When all stakeholders are involved, all the fears and suspicions would be over as nothing is seen to be hidden from end users. Thus the authors dwelt well on the concept of participatory research pointing out its usefulness and importance in agricultural biotechnology development