This archive report was first published on 4 January 2020.
On October 26, 2019, this column highlighted the potential of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture. Today, Kenya has taken a significant step forward by approving the commercial planting of GMO cotton.
The Kenyan Cabinet, chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta, made the decision two weeks prior to the announcement, following positive results from five years of field trials. The approval is expected to make Kenya a major player in the global textile and apparel production, alongside countries like India, Pakistan, Brazil, the USA, and China.
Kenya's current cotton production falls short of meeting the country's demand, with around 50,000 farmers producing 30,000 bales annually against a demand of 368,000 bales. The adoption of BT cotton, genetically engineered to resist the African boll worm, is expected to boost productivity from 572 kg/ha to 2500 kg/ha and lower production costs by 40%.
Uganda, a neighboring country, is struggling with its own cotton production, which has been severely impacted by the African boll worm infestation. The country's textile industry is at a standstill, with exports decreasing from 43,258 tons in 2012 to 20,480 tons in 2015.
Uganda's fertile soil and favorable climate make it an ideal location for cotton production, but the country's failure to develop a GMO Regulatory law has hindered its ability to grow BT crops. In contrast, Kenya's approval of GMO cotton is a significant step forward in the region's agricultural development.
