Tanzania Ready to Accept GMO Technology
Date: 27-Jan-05
Country: TANZANIA
Author: Helen Nyambura
The east African country of 35 million is frequently beset by food shortages because of recurrent drought and crop failure.
"It is one of the breeding methods that we have to eventually adopt," Agriculture Minister Charles Keenja told Reuters on Tuesday.
"We are currently working on rules and regulations which will govern the introduction of genetically modified technology into the country."
Most Europeans tend to be wary of GMO crops and foods but growers and consumers in the United States are more accepting.
In Africa, where food shortages are frequent, some countries have banned genetically modified food imports, while others have turned to them because of the potential for hardier crops.
The issue is further complicated by the fact that some food aid given in Africa can contain genetically modified products.
The minister said the legislative process could take until the end of the year, at which time Tanzania would decide what types of food it would import.
There are fears that the technology could bring in genetic material harmful to Tanzanian crops, the environment or human health, Keenja said.
"We are only trying to be very careful so that we do not import the adverse effects of the technology. So eventually, we know we shall have to adopt, but we want to be careful," he said.
Keenja was speaking on the sidelines of a conference on how to implement a continent-wide agricultural development programme.
The minister said Tanzania's agricultural sector, which employs 70 percent of the population, grew by 5 percent in 2004.
The government has started a campaign encouraging subsistence farmers to save their produce for drier months instead of selling it off immediately after harvest.
Keenja said his country had grain reserves of 117,000 tonnes which were enough for 2005 needs and was hoping for good rainfall to grow more for the next year.
"We had a good season last year and our strategic grain reserve has been expanded. We only have pockets that have deficits and we think we can deal with those," he said.