Kenyan research on GM maize must reach farmers

Dr Murenga Mwimali is the country co-ordinator of Water Efficient Maize for Africa. He was interviewed by AGATHA NGOTHO

You are currently in the final research stage of GM maize in Kenya, yet people are still sceptical about this.

We have lots of confidence and the kind of experiment we have done can justify why we should use the technology. Our promise is about delivery of good material tolerant to drought and insect pests to increase the options that farmers have in availing food on the table. There is need to increase options that will be available to farmers in Kenya and across Africa.

When are the GM maize varieties likely to be released to farmers?

Access to products coming out of GM work can be soon but the greatest challenge for us is the policy part where researchers generate technologies but the products remain in the lab, we need products beyond the fence of the confinement.

We have generated data and information that is homegrown, the concepts conceived well and show the products are tolerant, insect resistant and giving a promise to farmers.

The ban on GM importation is sending different signals to donor community and we want to see our products out there in the market with the people consuming it.

So far, everything is going the way we expect and if all goes well, the first product on the market will be out in 2017.

Read full, original interview: Kenyans Should End the Raging Debate On GMOs

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