By Tony Kago, The Nation via Checkbiotech

Kenyan scientists have announced what they describe as a major breakthrough in the search for pest-resistant maize variety.

The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) is to release into the market the generically modified maize, which is resistant to the stem-borer - the cause of huge losses to farmers.

KARI director Romano Kiome told the Nation yesterday that the research at the institute's Kiboko station in Kibwezi was about to to be completed.

The conventional seed which is between 40 per cent and 50 per cent stem-borer-resistant, he said, will be released next year, while the new type that is 100 per cent resistant will be out in 2009.

Cut production costs

"It is fantastic news for farmers as it will reduce the production costs by 30 per cent," Dr Kiome said.

KARI is working also on genetically modified varieties of potatoes, cassava and cotton under the Insect-Resistant Maize for Africa project, which was launched in 1999.

The pest can cause losses of upto 15 per cent of Kenya's maize crop with a value of Sh5.7 billion.

The project is a joint effort of KARI and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, and is funded by the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture to the tune of Sh11.5 billion.

KARI's breakthrough has been celebrated worldwide, with the New York Times doing an editorial on the trials.

Model of how to do it

"The Kenya study is a model of how to do it and a warning about how difficult adapting this technology for poor farmers will be," said The Times in the leader early this week.

President Kibaki is at the forefront of the support for the use of genetically modified (GM) crops.

"We must embrace and apply modern science and technology in farming," he said when he opened the project's greenhouse last year.

"Indeed, there is evidence that countries that have embraced modern agricultural technologies have improved economic performance, reduced poverty and ensured greater food security for their people."

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