BLOGS | OCHENG | GMOs

On Monday, October 3, 2022, the President of the Republic of Kenya, HE Dr. Samoei Ruto lifted the ban on GMOs in the country, giving a green light for the cultivation of Bt Maize among other crops.

In a follow-up comment, Dr. Kirimi Sindi, an agricultural economist with Cipotato, remarked that President Ruto’s action would have a ripple effect on their food systems and agricultural production, given the fact that the country had experienced a food crisis resulting from a long drought emanating from climate change. 

Dr. Kirimi Sindi also mentioned the blight-resistant potato currently in the research institutes in Uganda as another potential crop for adoption by their country.

The lift of the ban was received with mixed reactions across Kenya. I wonder what would happen in Uganda, if this happened? 

What does this action mean for us as Ugandans?

For over 15 years, biotechnology research has been funded by the Government and a number of products with promising results have been developed by our Ugandan scientists, and this includes the blight-resistant potato, Cassava Mosaic Disease resistant cassava, water-efficient rice and maize among others. 

The scientists have for almost the same period of time advocated for regulation of biotechnology so that Uganda enjoys the benefits of the science while at the same time protecting the country from misuse of the technology.

Now that the Kenyans are free to grow GMOs, our farmers along the border with Kenya will definitely look across and appreciate the benefits of the technology as their counterparts in Kenya will be reaping bountifully from their newfound seeds. 

I can almost predict that by the end of one season in Kenya, the whole of eastern Uganda will be flooded with modified seeds from Kenya since we do not have any law stopping them from acquiring these seeds. 

Something similar happened in South America when farmers in Brazil crossed the borders of Argentina to acquire modified soybean seeds after they had seen the benefits, Brazil had no choice, but to adopt the same. To me, this is one of the best options for us to take as a country to circumvent GM products entering the country unregulated.

Back to Uganda, we stand to lose for sitting on the fence too long, we shall soon become a museum for old agricultural technologies like the hand hoe, yet these new technologies have the potential to increase productivity by over four times what we are producing now! 

To make matters worse, Kenya has been the biggest market for our maize, now we shall only watch as that market closes within one season. 

In addition to that, the fact that we have no regulation means that just like it happened in Brazil, GMO products will cross into Uganda free with no checks whatsoever.

We got this scenario right before us and it is going to have adverse effects on our economy as a whole given that Kenya was our biggest market for cereals, among others, if they adopt the potato too, then we have almost nothing to sell across their borders! 

In addition to that, our local seed producers will lose market for their seeds as the farmers may prefer to buy the modified seeds from Kenya. These seed companies need to be protected and given the opportunity to trade in the same or else they close shop! 

This is the time for our Members of Parliament, who love science, to stand tall and address the potential of biotechnology in Uganda and support its regulation to give Uganda a competitive advantage over other countries.

It is also time to be proud of our own scientists for their success in developing beneficial biotechnology products which have the potential for spurring economic growth for a vibrant bio-economy!

As the Kenyans are enjoying technology developed in Uganda, we too should celebrate our own! 

The writer is passionate about bio-economy.