Farmers want Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill passed

Farmers under the Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE) have called upon Parliament to quickly pass the Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill 2012.

The Bill in meant to provide a regulatory framework to ensure safety in research and development of modern biotechnology in Uganda.

Charles Ogang the president of UNFFE said Uganda will continue to lose opportunities to overcome challenging agricultural production constraints that could be best addressed using technology.

"Our researchers have developed genetically modified bananas and cassava, which are resistant to bacterial wilt and cassava brown streak respectively. Farmers have seen the crops and want the planting material," he explained.

Ogang however noted that they have been told they cannot have access to these varieties without a law in place.

The farmers made the plea during a one day engagement between farmers and agricultural researchers at the Uganda Agribusiness Alliance (UAA) office in Bukoto, a Kampala suburb on Wednesday.

The National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill has been before Parliament since 2012 but has not been passed.

"Some aspects of biotechnology are regulated and require a regulatory framework that should guide research and adoption of products such as GM crops," Ogang said.

"We are now wondering if the MPs are aware of the looming food shortage that we face as a country if our major food crops disappear" he added.

Victoria Sekitoleko the chairperson UAA said she supports the passing of the Bill since she too had lost her cassava to the brown streak disease.

"This law is needed to ensure and assure safety in the use of the technology, empower technical competence for the regulatory process, and promote informed and participatory decision making by all users," she said.

Dr. Andrew Kiggundu a senior research officer at National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) said they are conducting research on crop plants produced through modern biotechnology.

"This research aims at improvements that overcome persistent problems such as insect and disease epidemics, drought stress and malnutrition," he explained.

He added that a law is required before the improved varieties resulting from biotechnology can be available to farmers.

"Many farmers in Uganda and trade partners are already using products of modern biotechnology. Since our borders are porous, a law is needed to guide access and use of such products," he said.

Over the years, scientists have endeavoured to provide appropriate varieties to help farmers cope with the diseases, which are causing great losses in form of reduced or no yields and income.

Biotechnology is one of the methods that scientists have utilized to improve crops to tolerate or resist some diseases like Banana Bacterial Wilt and Cassava Brown Streak Disease.