Mozambique, suffering from a withering hunger crisis, may reject future food donations that contain genetically modified corn, Prime Minister Pascoal Mocumbi said on Thursday.
The announcement made Mozambique the third southern African country to express concern about taking the modified corn, which comes mainly from the United States, the largest donor of food aid to the stricken region.
Mocumbi told a news conference that his country was concerned about accepting modified corn because some farmers could plant it, resulting in unknown consequences for local agriculture.
Any modified corn should be milled before being sent to Mozambique, so it could not be accidentally planted, he said.
However, he also appeared to leave an opening for accepting whole corn, saying that if any arrived at the nation’s ports it would have to be milled immediately.
”If the offer is made in good faith, why should (the donors) not mill it before sending it?” he asked.
The World Food Programme said it was currently negotiating the issue with the Mozambican government.
An estimated 12,8 million people in six countries in southern Africa are threatened with starvation this year.
In Zambia, where 2,3 million people face starvation, officials said last week they were debating whether to reject thousands of tons of modified corn donated by the United States.
In Zimbabwe, where 6,1 million people face hunger, officials have also expressed concerns over accepting modified corn that has not been milled.
Though the United States has repeatedly defended the safety of the grain – modified to produce higher yields and protect against pests – some critics have called a threat to human health and the environment.
The US government has pledged $98-million worth of grain to help alleviate the hunger, by far the largest donation. – Sapa-AP