April 20, 2007

Kenya to introduce GM corn soon

The Kenyan Government will soon introduce a new corn variety that gives a high yield and is resistant to the pest stem borer, Emanuel Mokuru, the Agriculture Ministry spokesman said Thursday.

A project to develop a genetically modified corn variety, known as Bt that will not be attacked by stem borer, is in its final stage and will be ready for release by early next year.

The project is being run by the International Maize (Corn) and Wheat Improvement Centre and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI).

Stem borer destroys an estimated 13 percent of the annual corn output, costing farmers at least KES5.7 billion (US$83.5 million). An unknown pest invaded corn in Kenya's eastern province in January causing huge damage to the crop in the region.

"The new variety will be planted in all corn growing zones in the country," said Mokuru. "From the coastal lowlands of Mombasa to dry altitudes of the eastern province and the highlands of western province," he said.

Corn is Kenya's stable food for its 32 million people. The country is just recovering from a severe drought and floods that caused 80 percent of the crop to fail, resulting in food shortages.

Industry officials and the state-run Meteorological Department have warned of an uncertain food situation again this year.