In a life and death situation where Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) can help save a nation, the African country, Tanzania, has the ability to solve a conflict killing them all. Although the long term effects of GMOs are still unknown, (HealthRF, 2013) the conflict of drought that Tanzania is dealing with is calling for help and GMOs just may be the perfect solution. In this situation, the pros outweigh the cons as GMOs are a promising solution to ending the hunger and food strike present in Tanzania today. Although the future outcome is unknown, the hazards are high and risks around this experiment are enormous, GMOs may be the only realistic explanation.
As the population inTanzania continues to grow, drought has created unstable living conditions bringing hunger and fear to the residernts and the farmers growing crops and herding animals. With the number of rainy seasons decreasing per year,Tanzania and other countries across Africa face worries over their futures and what climate change and other environmental problems will do to the old systems of food production (Shmickle, 2013). The drought has caused pastures and farms dry up, causing herders to drive their livestock for miles looking for grazing land and farmers to find land to plant their fields (Kariongi, Saning'o, 2013). Without water, their families no longer have milk and meat from the animals or fruit and vegetables to cook with. Along with drought, many diseases such as Maize Lethal Necrosis disease, have attacked plants, causing them to wither and wilt, dying before they even flower (Simbeye, 2013). As technology has advanced and GMOs have been adopted by more than 17 million farmers in other countries, introducing GMOs in Tanzania may help the current situation (Shmickle, 2013). Soon enough, farmers will have more mouths to feed under even more harsh conditions due to the increase in both population and climate change. In cases like these, technology introducing GMOs to the Tanzania culture is an immediate solution that can change the lives of many as plants possibly becoming resistant to disease and drought.
In many situations the cons of GMOs may outweigh the pros in less serious circumstances, but in Tanzania's living conditions and risk of existence, GMOs have the ability to change lives. Even with the people of Tanzania aware of the possible risks coming with GMOs, the drought that has hit their country has forced the people to be open to try anything. Considering the possibility that this technology can save a population completely, GMOs could change Tanzania forever.
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