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Uganda could soon introduce genetically modified bananas after a successful
genetically engineered sweet banana variety proved resistant to pests and
diseases, February 2007 by Esther Nakkazi.

The technology will improve the quality of banana, an important food and
cash crop whose production has declined due to diseases, especially the
banana wilt disease.

Genetically engineered bananas will also contribute to food security and
improve household incomes. Almost 24.5 per cent of Ugandan household?s
income is contributed by bananas. Some 70 per cent of farmers grow them as a
staple food as well as for brewing local liquor.

Scientists estimate that if the technology is applied to other varieties,
the country could save up to $8 billion it is said to have earmarked in the
next five years for fighting the banana bacterial wilt disease.

The disease is currently ravaging the country and spreading to Rwanda, the
Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.

The genetically engineered variety was developed by Geoffrey Arinaitwe, a
Ugandan scientist based in Belgium who has now applied to the Uganda
National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) for a permit to import
it to Uganda.

?The Council has already cleared it for field testing after importation from
Belgium.

This innovation will pave the way for research on other varieties to make
them resistant to diseases,? said Arthur Makara, the biosafety desk officer
at the Council, the country?s leading institution for science, technology
and innovation development.

The tested banana type will be brought to the Kawanda Research Institute
(Kari), which has just completed construction of a greenhouse to field test
bananas for resistance to bacterial wilt and black sigatoka fungal disease,
said Andrew Kiggundu, a plant biotechnologist at Kari.

The bacterial wilt is highly destructive, wiping out at least 90 per cent of
the fruit on the trees it affects. When it affects a tree, it becomes
poisonous to both humans and animals.

Scientists say the commonest way the disease spreads is through bees, which
pick up pollen from one banana and transport it to another.

Mr Kiggundu said more crops have been earmarked for testing before the end
of this year at Namulonge Research Institute and the National Agricultural
Research Organisation (Naro).

Other crops that are slated for field testing at Kari are genetically
modified cassava, which is resistant to the mosaic virus, sweet potatoes
rich in Vitamin A content and BT cotton.

?The varieties we have developed have increased resistance to pests, are
nutritive and fast growing,? said Mr Kiggundu.

But scientists have warned that although the genetically engineered crops
are being developed, they may not reach farmers any time soon as the country
has no legal framework to enable their distribution.

?We have new technology but we are being left behind because there is no
policy in place,? said Dr Charles Mugoya of the Association for
Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (Asereca).

?The GMOs will increase farm incomes and minimise environmental impact as
there is pesticide reduction. We need technology to drive our food
production,? said Dr Mugoya during the launch of the 2006 Global Status of
Commercialised Biotech report in Kampala.

The government is in the process of putting in place an enabling law to
allow the distribution of the GMO bananas.

The National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy, which will
guide the activities and distribution of GMO resources, is awaiting approval
by parliament.

?We in parliament will do everything possible to ensure that the
biotechnology policy is approved and biosafety bill enacted into law,? said
John Arimpa, vice chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Natural
Resources.

Uganda has three banana varieties ? sweet bananas, plantain and the East
African highland bananas (matooke), which are only grown and consumed in
East Africa.

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