Nairobi: Kenya has incurred a financial loss of 20.4 billion Kenyan shillings, equivalent to approximately 158 million dollars, over the past five years due to the slow adoption of biotechnology, as reported by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). Dr. Daniel Willy, Senior Manager for Policy, Agribusiness and Commercialisation at AATF, disclosed this information during the ongoing World Congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) in Kenya.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Willy emphasized that biotechnology is a crucial scientific tool for enhancing crop varieties and boosting food production. He cited its application in Tella maize (Bt maize), which allows crops to resist pests like stem borers and fall armyworm, thereby reducing yield losses associated with pest attacks. Furthermore, AATF scientists have used biotechnology to fortify crops with additional nutrients, introducing vitamin A into maize to combat nutritional deficiencies.
Dr. Willy also noted that biotechnology has been instrumental in improving the shelf life of crops such as tomatoes. He stressed that these innovations are vital for expanding Africa’s food production capacity and helping farmers cope with challenges like drought, pests, and diseases. Since the 1970s, AATF has developed numerous hybrid crop varieties, including maize, beans, and sorghum, through African scientists.
Highlighting Nigeria’s success in commercialising Pod Borer Cowpea, which resists the maruca pest, Dr. Willy pointed to it as a significant milestone in biotechnology. He mentioned that Bt maize has been commercialised in Nigeria and South Africa, with countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mozambique preparing to follow suit. However, he noted that the adoption of biotechnology in Africa has been hampered by misinformation and conspiracy theories regarding its health effects, which have delayed the commercialisation of biotech crops. Dr. Willy warned that such misconceptions are costly, as the continent continues to lose significant opportunities for agricultural advancement.