Western MPs oppose lifting of GMO ban
A section of MPs from western region have vowed to oppose the lifting of the ban on Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs) saying this will largely affect local farmers.
By reintroducing GMOs, the government will expose farmers to draconian intellectual property laws by the multinational corporations fronting the system. “The reinstatement of this mode of farming will not only leave the already over stretched farmers penniless but will literally put them out of business,” said Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
The MPs said what President William Ruto failed to inform Kenyan farmers that GM seeds are patented and this has the potential to land the farmers on whose farm the GM crops have grown without their knowledge into intellectual property issues. The local farmers, the lawmakers alleged are likely to be forced to pay royalties for the GM crops that contaminate their farms.
Separately, animal feed millers in the country welcomed the government move to lift the ban on GMO products.
“The lifting of the ban will now allow us to import soybean meal and yellow maize from both GMO and non-GMO sources,” they said while calling on the government to extend the gazette notice due for expiry this month, to allow duty free importation of animal feed raw materials. Under the Association for Kenya Feed Manufacturers (AKEFEMA), the feed millers said the ban on importation of GMO foods had crippled the country’s ability to respond promptly to food and feed crises.
The Association’s Secretary General, Martin Kinoti, said extension of the Gazette notice will enable the feed millers to choose source markets for yellow maize and soya.
