Kenya is in the midst of the worst droughts the East African region has suffered in four decades. The severe lack of water is due to the fact that there were four rainy seasons in which practically not dropped a drop. These extreme conditions lead to a reduction in agricultural production and predict a possible widespread famine.

One of the solutions to this critical situation is the adoption of genetically modified crops (GM) resistant to drought and pest attack. However, the country maintained a ban on these technologies.  The critical situation has led the Government to recognise the need to invest in GM crops to ensure food safety and protect the environment and to lift the ban on these crops.

"Climate change, drought severity and the emergence of new pests such as the cartridge caterpillar and corn drill, and diseases such as lethal corn necrosis, pose a real threat to food, animal feed and nutritional security," explained Eliud Kireger, director general of kenya's Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization. He also recalled that with the great need to address food security and other challenges, it is essential that farmers are convinced to adopt beneficial technologies such as GM crops.

Eva Wanjiru, a Kenyan farmer, said she didn't understand why we felt comfortable taking gmo insulin, but we can't eat gmo foods because of imaginary effects.  He said that the arguments against this technology are unfounded and that it is a very important step that the ban has been lifted in Kenya.

Source: Agrolink