Nairoby, Kenya
August 31, 2007
Source:
CropBiotech Update
Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture
recently launched high-yielding and drought and disease
resistant varieties of maize, sugarcane and wheat to enhance the
country’s food security. The seeds, developed by the
Kenya Agricultural Research
Institute (KARI) are being marketed by 53 seed companies in
Kenya, as well as in Uganda, Tanzania, Congo and Sudan.
Poor rains in parts of pastoral and agricultural marginal areas
could precipitate food shortage this year and Agriculture
Minister, Kipruto Kirwa, urged the farmers to use the new seed
varieties if the country is to improve its strategic food
reserve. However, because of the exorbitant prices of the new
varieties, many small scale farmers in Kenya still rely on their
own traditional seeds. Kirwa encouraged the seed distributors to
lower their prices and expand their limited investment retail
networks. Sufficient food supply for Kenya can only be attained
through a joint effort of the government and private companies.
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