The experts called on the government to fund local GMO research institutions and regulatory bodies to ensure biosafety policies and regulations and carry out rigorous risk and food safety assessments. Lobbyists demanded that the ban be reinstated until public participation is observed as enshrined in the Constitution. We need to invest in water harvesting systems to enable irrigation, roads to transport food to regions that don’t yield much, and invest in proper food storage and processing systems,” said Nasike. “Kenya’s solution to food insecurity is caused by a lack of proper structures and infrastructure. “Tomatoes, fruits, pulses, meat, milk and vegetables can be dried or canned to be used at a different time or place,” said Richard Lackey of the World Food Bank. Nasike referred to post-harvest waste in the past, where farmers have had to throw away cabbages, tomatoes, potatoes, fruit, and milk because of a lack of proper roads and market regulation.Īccording to the United Nations Environmental Programme, Kenya throws away 40 per cent of its food (5 217 367 tonnes). Those indigenous varieties will be threatened by the introduction of GMO seeds,” said Claire Nasike, an environmental scientist. We have various seeds, with different nutritional benefits, tastes, and characteristics. ![]() “Kenya’s food insecurity is not caused by a seed problem. These solutions, Atamba noted, could be possible without monopolising Agriculture.Ī study by the National Academy of Sciences report revealed that “there was little evidence” that introducing genetically modified crops in the US had led to more yield gains beyond conventional crops. ![]() The government had earlier said that Bt maize is early maturing, climate resistant, high yielding, eliminates pesticide use, and bears more nutritional benefits. As of November 2021, there were 1056 suicide cases of farmers recorded from western Vidarbha alone.”Ītamba, who has studied Biotechnology, said that government institutions misinformed Kenyans about the attributes of GMO crops. “400,000 more farmers suicides have been recorded across India since. “Bt cotton growing regions in India were sucked into a vicious cycle of debts and suicides,” the report says. ![]() The report indicates that the Bt cotton growing regions in India were sucked into a vicious cycle of bank debts to finance the costly seeds and chemicals, which promised high yields and pest management. Still, the GMO variety did not prove to be the magic bullet against pests, climate change, and drought. This forced farmers to grow monocultures of Bt cotton, and the price of cotton seeds has since ballooned. The cost of fertilisers and pesticides spiked too, both of which had to be purchased with the seeds. The mechanism for redress/ compensation in the event of failure or negative effects must be put in place to safeguard the livelihoods of consumers and farmers,” said Kemunto.Īccording to a report by India-based Navdanya International, a biodiversity conservation organisation, in less than two decades after GMO millet and Bt cotton were introduced in India, indigenous varieties were depleted completely. “GMO technology is prone to failure and malfunction, as has been witnessed in Burkina Faso and India. What would’ve happened to Kenyans if we depended on seed imports during that period?” he asked.Īlice Kemunto, of the Consumer Grassroots Association, said that GMOs are relatively new technology (the first GM crop was produced 30 years ago), and there’s a need to safeguard farmers and consumers in the event of crop failures. “The Covid pandemic demonstrated the need to embrace local production and consumption. ![]() Atamba cited the Covid pandemic when export barriers and closed borders were implemented to prevent cross-border infections.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |