Kenyan Maize Farmers Express Support for GM Maize

Farmers from the Cereal Growers Association have expressed their support for the introduction and commercialization of GM maize in Kenya.

Speaking at an event organized by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Kenya, farmers received positive testimonies from stakeholders who had recently toured Brazil GM crop fields. The meeting was attended by 25 farmers and farm managers from various Counties of the Rift Valley and Western Kenya who mainly grow maize and soybeans.

Mr. Mburu, Operations Manager at Gicheha Farms Limited, described the Brazil tour as an eye opening experience. According to Mr. Gicheha, "introducing biotech into Brazil's farming systems has allowed the country to be a net exporter of maize and soya beans to other countries like Canada and United States." By adopting GM crops, Brazil has achieved "higher crop yield, lower production cost, longer planting and harvest windows, better quality produce and reduction of pesticide applications," said Mr. Mburu. "One of the main differences between us and Brazil is the adoption of GM crops, because we have similar climatic conditions," he added.

"From this forum, we realize that what we have been hearing on dangers related to GMOs are false rumors. To support our scientists, we will endeavor to sensitize our groups so that they know the truth about GMOs," said Kibiok Tanui from Nandi County.

For more information on the forum, contact Dr Margaret Karembu, Director of ISAAA AfriCenter and chair of the OFAB Kenya Programming Committee at mkarembu@isaaa.org.