Bid to revive ailing cotton industry with GMO variety

But it is not harmful to people, birds or other insects that consume it.

Scientists say the new variety ensures maximum productivity since it prevents the worms from eating up the bolls that form before the plant matures and which significantly contribute to the overall yields.

Surface water

The researchers say that the Bt cotton also helps farmers to save and contributes to environmental conservation since the excessive use of insecticides contaminates ground and surface water.

The new cotton which has been approved by the National Biosafety Committee has been found to be of the same quality with the conventional type.

Garment manufacturers and lovers of cotton fabrics have also been assured of the same quality and safety.

Other products derived from cotton such as oil and seed cake, used as animal feed have also passed the safety mark.

Kenya is set to adopt Bollgards II, which is an improvement from Bollgard I, a first generation genetically engineered cotton introduced in 1996 by US company Monsanto.

The second generation GMO cotton is already being cultivated in USA, China, India, Australia, Argentina, Mexico, Columbia, South Africa and Burkina Faso, comprising about 11 per cent of all the genetically modified crops around the world.

Dr Waturu says tests are under way to establish whether genes contained in the GMO cotton can be transferred to largely wild cotton which grows in parts of coast province.

But the country’s quest to adopt the GMO has not been without challenges.

Anti GMO crusaders backed by pesticides manufacturers who are set to lose a big chunk of their market through the introduction of the new variety, have strongly opposed its adoption.

“They are aware that their sales will plummet and have been at the forefront fighting the new technology,” says Dr Waturu.

He says farmers are also reluctant to adapt the genetically modified seeds fearing any associated side effects but an initiative dubbed BioAware launched by Agriculture minister William Ruto last year is tasked with enlighten farmers on the new technology.

The industry is also faced with poor marketing and low prices for farmers which may water down any gains from the Bt cotton.