This archive report was first published on 22 December 2019.
On December 22, 2019, the Kenyan Cabinet approved the planting of biotech cotton, a move that could see farmers earn more from their crop through increased production.
However, the government still needs to clarify whether the ban on genetically modified crops is still in place, particularly regarding crops like maize.
Kenya has been under a moratorium on the importation or growing of GM crops since 2012, and the ban on national performance trials on GMO maize was stopped by the Ministry of Health in 2017.
The Ministry of Agriculture has stated that the government will push the BT cotton case first before moving on to the maize question.
Experts argue that biotech cotton is pest-resistant, drought-tolerant, and provides a viable solution to the notorious boll worms that have been decimating the crop's production for years.
The adoption of this new technology is also seen as a boon for the country's textiles sector, which has been on the rebound.
