Farmers warned not to plant GM maize in Zimbabwe

Vangelis Haritatos, Zimbabwe's deputy minister of lands, agriculture, fisheries, water and rural development, has issued a stern warning to the country's maize growers that no imported genetically modified (GM) maize may be used as seeds.

- Annelie Coleman

Earlier this month, he warned that those who illegally supplied GM maize to farmers to be used as seed would be prosecuted, according to a report by the New Zimbabwe news service.

Haritatos said that although the government would allow the importation of GM maize, the grain could not be distributed to farmers for planting, and buyers and sellers caught doing so would be prosecuted.