“How soon will this cotton be out for farmers? What is needed to have this cotton as early as possible?”
Those were general queries thrown to scientists in Kasese District, moments after farmers finished touring the two-type genetically-modified cotton (GM cotton) varieties, which have shown early indicators of withstanding herbicides and bollworms, currently being tested in a confined field trail (CFT) at Mubuku Prisons Farm.
In July, Uganda started testing its first-ever genetically-modified cotton (GM cotton). The two-type GM cotton varieties-Herbicide Tolerant (Ht) Cotton and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton- are being tested by scientists at the National Semi-Arid Resource Research Institute (NaSARRI) at Serere in Soroti and Mubuku Prisons Farm in CFTs.
Bt cotton has the ability to withstand bollworms and Ht cotton tolerates roundup chemicals sprayed to destroy weeds. Mereki Byabasaijja, brought said that since the two varieties have shown early indictors of pest-resistance and herbicide tolerance, they should be hurried to enable farmers cut costs incurred in weeding and spraying.
“High cost of production has disheartened us. Many farmers have abandoned cotton growing and more others are considering edging out,” Mr Byabasaijja also doubling as chairman of Nyakatonzi Growers Cooperative Union Ltd, said.
“If you [scientists] are researching a technology that would solve our agony, then it should not be delayed any further, the visibly excited farmer added. But Dr Thomas Areke, the director of National Semi-Arid Resource Research Institute (NaSARRI) and lead researcher, said though tests are promising, both varieties would not be rushed.
“My advice is to be patient,” Dr Areke repeatedly begged. “We still need more time to check on the compliance of both varieties. I can’t assure you that they will be commercialised tomorrow, next year or years to come because the national bio-safety law that guides the operation of biotechnology is also yet to be enacted,” he told a Cotton CFT sensitisation seminar held in Kasese last week. His response, however, dampened the spirits of farmers who anxiously asked “What assistance can we offer to speedup research? “I know it’s not possible anyway to release this technology within a shortest period, but if it can be done in less than two years, we will be glad,” Mr Saul Mate, Maliba sub-county chairperson said.
In Uganda, GM cotton is the second genetically modified crop currently being tested after bananas. The testing however, comes at a time when genetically modified organisms (GMO) crops are facing criticism all over the world. Those opposing the technology claim the crops may have future side-effects to human beings while others say Uganda has no capacity to handle them. But Dr Theresa Sengooba, the regional coordinator of Programme for Biosafety System (PBS), says people should not have to worry about the new technology under test. She says the GM cotton, which is under trial, is an aspect of biotechnology, a tool people have lived with for some time.
The scientist says, GMOs is one of the tools scientists worldwide have been using to improve crop productivity. “GM seed has potential to improve cotton profitability. It will reduce yield variability and definitely have an impact on farmers’ welfare,” Dr Sengooba said adding that Uganda has the capacity to handle GMs. GM cotton has already been commercialised in some African countries like Burkina-Faso and South Africa, where results have shown significant economic benefits to small scale farmers. 60 per cent of cotton produced in the world is GM cotton.
Wilfred Kamulegeya of Monsanto-Uganda says since cotton is a world crop whose market is uncontrollable, it’s time for farmers to increase production if they are to compete favourably. He says the technology will possibly assist farmers to double their yields.
Dr Areke adds, GM cotton will help Uganda reduce on its annual cotton losses of 100,000 bales, which is equivalent to $20m (about Shs40b) in export value annually. In 2000, the government set a target of producing a million bales of lint cotton by 2010. This would increase export earnings from $40m to $50m, to $200m per annum. The families engaged in cotton production were also projected to increase to at least 418,000 from 350,000. The government had also targeted increasing cotton acreage production from 1.2 acres to two acres per family.
Copyright ©2009 Monitor Publications Ltd.
