Light at the end of tunnel for GM maize farming
Musila Benson holds maize cobs during harvesting of GM maize at the Kiboko Kalro research station in 2014. File | Nation Media Group
Kenya is moving closer to adopting genetically modified maize.
This is after the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) approved the varieties to be grown under National Performance Trials (NPT) from October in six counties.
NBA Chief Executive Officer Dorington Ogoyi said the agency and the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) had given the BT-Maize varieties a green light. They will be grown in six maize growing agro-ecological zones in two seasons during the short rains.
“The NPTs for BT maize varieties were delayed due to Covid-19. These trials are now going to be carried out in a number of Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (Kalro) sites that include Embu, Thika, Kakamega, Alupe, Kibos and Mwea. The applicant (Kalro) has also been issued with the Environmental Impact Assessment licence,” he said.
According to Prof Ogoyi, the BT maize varieties, if they are approved by the relevant government agencies, are expected to be commercialised by 2022. “Given that typically maize would take five months, we expect the second season to end by mid-2021,” he added.
Fall armyworm
Proponents say biotechnology offers opportunities to develop crop varieties that address challenges facing production. But, opponents have expressed concerns about the human and environmental safety of the technology. The Health ministry banned imports of GMO food in 2012 over safety concerns. But, the ministry has stated that the ban will be lifted on a case-by-case basis.
Dr James Karanja, a BT maize lead scientist at Kalro, said the trials will test the crop’s efficacy against notorious stem borer and Fall armyworm. “Stem borer has resulted in a drop in maize yields by 4.7 million bags and the Fall armyworm by 23.4 million bags. But, with this technology we will be able to tackle these pests,” added the scientist.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Hamadi Boga said the adoption of bio-technology can provide a solution in tackling the aflatoxin menace. Aflatoxin has been found in maize from different parts of the country.
