Harare — It is not the first time that the Grain Millers Association has urged the Government to allow them to import genetically-modified grain.

The Government has responded that it cannot allow unprocessed grain into the country because when it germinates, it contaminates the environment.

Millers have been told that they are free to import genetically modified maize-meal though they would likely lose business as most Zimbabweans shun these products.

We agree with the Government when it says the money spent on importing GMOs should be used on contract farming. There are big companies that are already doing this.

While scientists across the world are embroiled in debate on the advantages and disadvantages of GMO foods, activists and traditional farmers, especially in Africa, feel they do not need GMOs as they might compromise the gene poool and harm the environment.

In southern Africa, only South Africa has opened to GMOs while the rest of the region is carefully creating legislation that will embrace biotechnology with the caution it deserves.

The big question that has remained unanswered by those pushing for genetic engineering or importation of GMO maize is whether that will be the answer to food scarcity mainly caused by poor rainfall, diseases and lack of resources among others.

Given the erratic rainfall that afflicted the region over the past few years. If biotechnology could be used to produce drought tolerant varieties that can do with the briefest of rains, then by all means many farmers would welcome it.

But if the debate about GMOs is simply about importing food at the expense of developing local agriculture then we have lost the plot. We feel that instead of importing GMOs, there is need to address the negative factors fueling food insecurity in the region.

The reversal of the negative trends can be achieved through the revolution of food production, post harvest technology and improved information on distribution and marketing.

And all this does not require genetic engineering.

True, there are already some GMO foods like chicken and maize-meal, which are already being imported into the country. There is therefore need for market segmentation as there are different markets and preferences. Consumers are worried that farmers and scientists using the drug-enhanced hormones or genes in these foods will not disclose the negative aspects of the products but would always vouch for their safety.

Generally, the major fear among many consumers on these GMO foods is that human genes might creep into the food. Even though Zimbabwe is not contemplating introducing GMO technology for now, it is however, imperative that there is legislation governing the importation of genetically modified foods when the need arises.

The fear among many is the threat of the importation of GMO foods on the country's agricultural industry considering the resistance being waged by those viciously opposed to Zimbabwe's agrarian reform both within and outside the country.

The real danger is that the country's entire agrarian reform programme could be destroyed in one fell swoop if adequate care is not exercised in handling the importation of the GMO maize as advocated by millers.