{"id":853,"date":"2022-08-18T16:46:20","date_gmt":"2022-08-18T16:46:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/growersforbiotechnology.org\/?p=853"},"modified":"2022-08-18T16:51:02","modified_gmt":"2022-08-18T16:51:02","slug":"kenyan-farming-experts-urge-permanent-lift-of-gm-ban-to-address-animal-feed-shortage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/growersforbiotechnology.org\/2022\/08\/18\/kenyan-farming-experts-urge-permanent-lift-of-gm-ban-to-address-animal-feed-shortage\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenyan farming experts urge permanent lift of GM ban to address animal feed shortage"},"content":{"rendered":"
Kenyan farmers are far too familiar with the devastation that resource shortfalls cause to their livestock.<\/p>\n
Punitive local tax regimes, technical restrictions, challenges in access to foreign currency and logistics disruptions \u2014 most of these exacerbated by the pandemic \u2014 have been dragging Kenya\u2019s bid for seamless [grain] importation back. A problem with accessing yellow maize due to a tough stance by the government on importation of non-genetically modified maize worsened the feed problem in the past few months.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis situation, where people can no longer profit off their livestock, is dangerous and is a threat to security as livestock farming is a socio-economic activity,\u201d says [Secretary General of the Association of Kenya Feeds Manufacturers Martin] Kinoti.<\/p>\n
Stephen Mugo, the director of the Centre for Resilient Agriculture for Africa (CRA-Africa), says Kenya experiences a shortage of nearly 11 million 90-kilo bags of maize a year. This year, which has experienced delayed rainfall amid increasing demand for maize, could be worse, with Dr Mugo saying that \u201c2022 is particularly a food-insecure year\u201d.<\/p>\n
In the short term, Dr Mugo says the government could focus on targeted food imports, and should lift the ban on GM foods. It could also offer famine relief food for people living in Northern Kenya, where the drought hits hardest.<\/p>\n