Lift of GMO ban will affect small scale farming, says Azimio team
Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition has added its voice in opposition to the decision by the government to lift the 2012 ban on genetically modified crops.
According to the party leader, the reopening of the door on GMO foods will spell doom to organic Kenya crops.
“GM crops can not co-exist with organic and no GM crops due to contamination,” they said.
While addressing the media on behalf of the opposition, Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said the government is placing the health of Kenyans at risk, with the country’s poor testing capacity. “Kenya lacks adequate capacity to test GMO traits and the impact it has on health.”
He added that the move will further harm small-scale farming by providing unfair competition. “Our genetic generic seed company and small-scale farming risk dying out as a result of unfair competition from subsidized GMOs and corporate capture by the multinationals.”
The government last week allowed the import and cultivation of GMOs, banned since 2012, to address the country’s severe drought.
He argued that the current government is under state capture to lift the ban on GMO food which could lead to diplomatic and trade challenges with nations that have placed bans on GMO crops.
“The long-term effects of GMO out weight the short-term gains if indeed there are any,” said Kalonzo.
The group also took issue with the silence of the church leadership on the matter while criticising the National Biosafety Authority, the body tasked with supervision and control over the transfer, handling, and use of GMO crops for being the lead promoter of GMO crops.
“We urge our religious leaders and faith-based organisations not to sell their souls but to speak the truth at power out of commercial interest and political expediency.”
They say food security should not be premised on maize alone calling for Kenyans to be sensitized on other foods.
In a dramatic policy move intended to increase Kenya’s food security and control skyrocketing costs, the Cabinet of Kenya opened up billions of dollars for businesses in the GMO market.
The 2012 ban that prohibited the importation or open production of GMO crops was lifted on Monday under the direction of President William Ruto, making Kenya the second country on the continent after South Africa to permit biotechnology foods.
The clearance follows a severe drought that has forced the government to provide emergency food after three million Kenyans were exposed to starvation in 23 counties. The regulation change that would force farmers to lower prices or face being driven out of the market will benefit businesses that produce GMO seeds the most.
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