By Mutuvi Janet
Integrated Community Organization for Sustainable Empowerment and Education for Development (ICOSEED) has urged farmers in Kirinyaga County to embrace biotechnology in farming activities to boost food production and fetch more profit.
Patrick Gitari, chairperson of ICOSEED has said that farmers will be taken through by the non-governmental organization on how GM technology is used, the roles of the National Bio-safety Authority in GMO regulation, and the facts surrounding GMO food.
Gitari stated that the farmers will be educated more the role of technology in the production of food commonly referred to as Genetically Modified Crops.
“Through genetically modified crops, we will end the famine being witnessed annually,” he added.
Research has been done by Kenya scientists and the crops have no side effects on the environment and human health.
He single out BT Cotton and BT Maize which normally do well in Central Kenya but the majority of farmers don’t utilized bio-tech to increase the yield due to myths surrounding genetically modified crops.
“ BT cotton is resistant to pests and fewer chemicals are required compared to normal cotton noting if all farmers embrace it all ginneries will be revived which is not the only source of income for farmers but also creates employment opportunities.” he said.
The National Government had announced importation of GMO Maize which caused uproar, the High Court later suspended importation and distribution of the GMOs pending hearing of a case filed by farmers.
