Prossy Nandudu
Researchers specializing in biotechnology have embarked on a country wide campaign to sensitize farmers to the commercial benefits of biotechnology. The aim is for farmers to understand the benefits of the technology so as to demand for appropriate regulation.
According to the Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium, biotechnology refers to any technology that uses living things or parts of living things to make useful products that benefit mankind and the environment in agriculture.
The technology is also used in the production of vaccines and antibodies in the industry to make various products for health and environment management.
Wagaba made the explanation in a meeting of farmer leaders across the country that took place on Friday, at Fair Hotel, organized by the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS), Uganda Biotechnology Biosafety Consortium (UBBC) and Science Foundation for Livelihoods and Development (SCIFODE) and the National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO).
While sharing the benefits of the technology with farmers Dr Henry Wagaba, cassava breeder from the National Crop Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) explained that through the technology, cassava resistant to cassava brown streak diseases have been developed.
The other crops include Potatoes resistant to the potato blight, bananas resistant to banana bacterial wilt but also vitamin A rich bananas among others. Wagaba explained that cassava brown streak disease can cause up to 100% yield loss.
And yet cassava can earn farmers an income when sold as fresh tubers, when processed into high quality cassava flour for the pharmaceutical industry, Ethanol, food, for bakery among others.
He however said that due to lack of regulation of food products produced through biotechnology, researchers cannot release the said products for planting.
For farmers to benefit from the technology, there is need for a regulation, whose bill has hasn’t yet become law since 2012.The 2012 National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill established a regulatory framework to facilitate the safe development and application of modern biotechnology.
In 2018 Parliament passed the bill, that was renamed Genetic Engineering Regulatory Bill 2018 following recommendations by President Yoweri Museveni ,who declined to ascent to the proposed law, raising 12 issues that required improvement
Concerns raised by the President include establishment of gene banks to conserve indigenous or traditional seed that genetic modifications should be restricted to plants and animals, that the developer or breeder of GMO seed is responsible for any consequences arising from the GMO seed among others.
Dr. Andrew Kigundu a senior Biotechnologist also the chairperson of the Uganda Biosafety and Biotechnology Consortium said that by training and engaging farmers, some of the issues raised by the President will be answered and this will facilitate the passing of the bill into law.
