Nairobi — Lack of regulations is hindering the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari) from carrying out cotton and maize field trials in biotechnology.

According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), rules to guide carrying out of performance field tests have not been released by National Biosafety Authority (NBA).

Director Margaret Karembu said the authority was expected to gazette the rules last month to allow Kari with other stakeholders to undertake trials of Baccellus thurengiensis (Bt) cotton and maize before seeds are released to farmers in future.

"Kenya is facing the challenge of declining farm sizes, low soil fertility, weeds, pests and expensive agricultural inputs. Biotechnology, if well harnessed, will develop high yield crop varieties," she said.

Genetically modified cotton and maize are said to be safe but cannot be released to the public until tests are carried out and certification done by the government.

Biotechnology complements traditional breeding systems by addressing agricultural challenges including climate through providing fast-maturing disease-resistant crops.

Local farmers have already benefited from use of tissue culture technology in commercial production of clean planting materials with reduced maturity period for bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava and Irish potato.

President Kibaki on February 12 last year signed the Biosafety Act of 2009. Kenya's national biotechnology policy of 2006 outlaws controversial aspects of biotechnology like cloning and unethical practices.

Dr Karembu said the potential of biotechnology to increase production can be applied to a wide range of food and non-food commodities which is vital to increasing incomes, job opportunities and living standards.

"Rules to guide field trials need to be gazetted. Studies in India and South Africa show cotton and maize farmers have benefited greatly after their governments adopted biotechnology," she said.

Life quality

Of 4,000 families in villages where the Bt cotton is grown, a majority of those whose quality of life has improved are women. Farmers' income has increased by $220 with yields going up by 31 per cent.

"Prenatal attendance, school enrolment and vaccination of children have improved compared to days before the introduction of the bt crops," said ISAAA chairman Clive James.

He said new biotechnology products likely to emerge in the near future have the potential of turning around the agricultural landscape in Kenya among other countries that have biosafety legislation in place.

The country has opted for genetically modified cotton and maize seeds in a bid to increase production and in turn generate enough to meet domestic demand and export the surplus.

Mr Simon Gichuki who is in charge of biotechnology at Kari said the institute will embark on field trials of Bt cotton followed by maize once requisite rules are gazetted by the authority.

"After concluding field trials of Bt cotton and maize the seeds will be available for distribution to farmers. Bt crops deliver higher yields but do not need spraying of pesticides," he said.

Cotton Development Authority and Kari will both control distribution of cotton seeds to avoid sales of spurious quality. According to Kari, the country has the potential to grow 260,000 bales of cotton annually.

Kenya's cotton production reached 70,000 bales in 1986 but declined due to cultivating using recycled seeds among others.

Mr Gichuki said Kari will carry out field trials of Bt maize to help farmers fight stem borer that attacks the plant and affects families which rely on the cereal as a staple food and source of income.

"It will be the first time the insect-resistant maize has been planted directly into the soil in an open field in Kenya. The experimental fields are not accessible by people, domestic animals or wildlife," he said.

Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project aims to develop and make available royalty free varieties to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa to increase food security.

It is coordinated by Nairobi-based African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) working with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Monsato.

National agricultural research institutions of Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda are participating. The partnership is funded by Bill & Melinda Gates and Howard G. Buffett foundations.

In the next 12 months, pending necessary regulatory approvals, it is expected that scientists will be able to proceed with the planting of biotech crops in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Mozambique will take steps towards completing the development of testing sites and secure regulatory approvals with a goal of planting next year.

It is estimated the maize products developed over the next decade could increase yields as much as 20 to 35 per cent under moderate drought conditions compared to current varieties.

This double-digit increase would translate into an estimated two million additional tonnes of food during dry years in participating countries meaning 14 to 21 million people would have more to eat and sell.