Nairobi — THE TANZANIA government is drafting a policy on genetically modified (GM) crops in readiness for adopting the controversial technology, which some advocates consider a necessity for the future of food production.

The EastAfrican has learnt that a multi-sectoral selection of Tanzanian experts will be drafting the policy guidelines and regulations in order to safeguard and equip the nation with the necessary precautions.

Tanzania's Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Charles Keenja, said in Dar es Salaam last week that the country had taken no clear position" on GM products to date.

We cannot avoid this technology, but what's important is to put in place mechanisms and guidelines on how it would be introduced, including preparing a Cabinet paper for the purpose, he said.

Mr Keenja was commenting on recent reports that the world's biggest agrochemical companies and the United States government are in the process of introducing genetically modified crops in West Africa, starting with cotton.

He said Tanzania was at an advanced stage in discussions with the South African government over how to adopt GM technology: We have a similar environment and they possess advanced laboratories for research on GM organisms, he said, adding that Tanzania was also considering co-operating with India and China in the same matter.

Mr Keenja said Tanzania was not in dire need of adopting GMOs immediately because, As of now we are self-reliant for over 90 per cent of our food, but by going about this issue systematically and critically, we would in future reach a point where we will decide on how to adopt GMOs.

If we would be in a situation of choosing between death or eating GMO foods today, in my opinion, I would rather choose eating them, Mr Keenja said, adding that due to current global food movement, many people - including those against the technology - have taken up GMOs.

Dr Joe Kabissa, the Director General of the Tanzania Cotton Lint and Seed board, however said that there were some requirements to be fulfilled before bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton is put into commercial use. Bt is a toxin-producing bacterium found naturally in the soil and scientists have isolated certain genes responsible for the production of these toxins and then used genetic engineering techniques to insert them into cotton - susceptible pests are supposed to die when they eat them.

There are legal issues, intellectual property rights and organs to be put in place or consulted before GM seeds go commercial, Dr Kabissa said.

He added that in Africa, it was only South Africa that uses GM seeds, with the DPL South Africa Company enjoying the monopoly in dealing with such seeds in Africa.

I am optimistic over the introduction of GMOs because research has shown that there are some advantages in using them if we are to overcome some of our agricultural problems, he said.

According to the BBC's Focus on Africa Journal (April-June 2004), researchers with the Institut d'Economie Rurale in Mali are finalising a five-year plan with the US Agency for International Development, Monsanto, Syngenta and Dow AgroSciences to develop and commercialise GM cotton.

If implemented, Mali will be the third country in West Africa to start field trials with Bt cotton, a genetically-engineered cotton, after Burkina Faso and Senegal.

Other countries on the list for Bt cotton are Benin and Ivory Coast. However, Benin declared a moratorium on GMO crops in March 2002.

The BBC journal says the introduction of Bt cotton comes on the assumption that Bt will eliminate pesticides. Proponents of Bt also argue that it will increase yields and thus farmers' profits.

Some notable disadvantages of the introduction of Bt cotton include the lack of visible differences between Bt cotton and conventional cotton, which it is feared will create more confusion. Some agriculturists see the introduction of Bt as an attempt to "contaminate" cotton.

Bt cotton may also slip into conventional cotton stocks through cross-pollination. "Once introduced into the environment, it would be difficult to remove it should harmful environmental effects be discovered, the journal warns. The consequences of GMO crops are massive and could lead to farmers losing control of their seeds, it adds.