By John Njiraini

Kenya will enact a law to legalise genetically modified technology to
increase food production.

Agriculture Minister William Ruto said the highly divisive technology offers
the best tool to fight low yields, diseases and increase productivity.
?I believe the way to get our nation out of poverty is to have the right
technology in agriculture because our economy is agri-based,? he said.

Agriculture accounts for more than 25 per cent of the gross domestic product
and employs about 70 per cent of the work force.

The Biosafety Bill 2008 would be tabled in Parliament when the House resumes
in October to create the legal infrastructure and allow cultivation of
genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

safety of GMOs

?Science has provided policy makers with concrete proof, evidence and
research on the safety of GMOs and Parliament must make the critical
decision and pass the Bill,? said Ruto.

He said the Government might import GMO maize as part of the 1.5 million
bags needed to cover the national deficit. If the Biosafety Bill is enacted,
a National Biosafety Authority would be established to regulate use of GMOs
to ensure safety and protection of the environment.

However, this would not be the first time the Bill would be tabled in
Parliament. Last year, Parliament debated the Bill, but got dissolved before
it could pass it. Although there is no law on GMO, research and development
has been ongoing since 1998.

The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute has been carrying out research on
transgenic maize, sweet potato, cassava, cotton and rinderpest vaccine. The
technology has faced stiff opposition from the Kenya Biodiversity Coalition.
www.checkbiotech.org