Govt Cautioned On Genetic Seeds

By Milton Olupot THE Uganda Food Rights Alliance (FRA) has asked the Government to resist the introduction of genetically modified seeds into Uganda's agricultural sector, saying it will be disastrous to farmers. The FRA steering committee on Monday said allowing such seeds to be imported and used would deny the farmers rights to their seeds. The committee, chaired by Henry Richard Kimera, told the press at Hotel Africana in Kampala that the Government should also lobby for the total removal of patents on life forms and drugs, especially for HIV. The committee said Uganda must enact a law to modify the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement and enact laws that suit and protect citizens. Kimera said patents on seeds would discourage farmers from using their traditional seeds, leading to loss of their bio-diversity, poor and expensive production. FRA, a coalition of NGOs and individuals on Monday joined the world to mark the Day of Action to raise public awareness on the potential impact of the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS) on food security and access to drugs. The outcome of the events will help the Government prepare for the fourth WTO ministerial meeting in Doha, Qutar in November. Ends