Cabinet Approves Cultivation, Importation of New Maize Varieties

Maize farmers in the country will now be allowed to cultivate new varieties, including genetically modified ones.

The cabinet chaired by President William Ruto has also approved the importation of new maize varieties into the country.

The latest cabinet approval is a departure from a November 2012 cabinet decision that instituted a ban on the importation of all GM food into the country. The ban has been in force until Monday, October 3, 2022, when the cabinet made its latest decision.

With the ban in place, it was illegal for anyone to handle or import any food containing a genetically modified organism (GMO) into Kenya without National Biosafety Authority (NBA) approval.

But the latest cabinet decision now makes it legal to import or plant GMO varieties.

More production

Aside from allowing the cultivation and importation of new maize varieties, the cabinet also approved the commercialization of BT Cotton.

“At @StateHouseKenya, Nairobi, chaired the Cabinet where, among other issues, approved the cultivation and importation of new maize varieties and lifted the embargo on the commercialisation of Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) Cotton,” Ruto said in a tweet.

“We are adopting emerging and new alternatives to farming that will ensure early maturity and more production of food to cushion millions of Kenyans from perennial famine,” he added in an earlier tweet.

On Sunday, the Head of State had hinted that the Cabinet was set to allow the cultivation of BT cotton which has proved to be having better yields, compared to the normal variety.

“I have called a cabinet meeting on Monday to approve what our scientists have approved for use to have high-quality seeds that are resistant to diseases and pests. We need better returns for farmers and to develop the cottage industry. We need to revive industrialisation. This is your government and I will work for everyone,” Ruto said after attending a church service in Homa Bay Town.

What is BT Cotton?

BT cotton has been genetically modified by the insertion of one or more genes from a common soil bacterium, Bacillus Thuringiensis. These genes encode the production of insecticidal proteins, and thus, genetically transformed plants produce one or more toxins as they grow.

The cabinet decision to approve the commercialization of BT Cotton come just months after the United States of America slammed Kenya for its failure to approve imported genetically modified (GM) foods and crops.

It claimed the move was restricting its exports.

“Kenya’s GE ban has blocked both US government food aid and agricultural exports derived from agricultural biotechnology. The restriction affects US exports of processed and unprocessed foods and feed ingredients, such as soy, corn, and distiller dried grains with solubles,” US Trade Representative’s office (USTR) said in March 2022.