2-Plants: Call for GM cotton to replace tobacco in Kenya

[GENET <coordination@genet-info.org>]

-------------------------------- GENET-news -------------------------------

TITLE:  Call for GM Cotton to Replace Tobacco
SOURCE: The Nation, Kenya
        http://allafrica.com/stories/200411301225.html
DATE:   30 Nov 2004

------------------- archive: http://www.genet-info.org/ -------------------


Call for GM Cotton to Replace Tobacco

An MP wants the Government to allow imports of genetically modified seed
to spur cotton growing to replace tobacco.

Alego-Usonga's Sammy Weya says farmers in Nyanza will suffer if proposed
anti-tobacco legislation is passed in Parliament.

"The Bill will definitely affect them, so the Government should find a
way to compensate these farmers by allowing them to import the GM cotton
seed," said Mr Weya, who chairs a parliamentary committee on tobacco.

He added: "There must be another source for tobacco farmers to earn a
living as most of them are located in the poverty-stricken areas of
Nyanza Province."

The Government has published a controversial Bill to regulate the tobacco
industry.

Tobacco manufacturers have already started lobbying MPs to water down the
Bill, expected to tighten regulation of smoking and tobacco growing.

Recently, dozens of MPs attended a controversial workshop sponsored by
tobacco manufacturers to discuss the proposed law.

Mr Weya, one of those who attended the forum, wants the Tobacco Bill
amended to be acceptable to all the stakeholders, for and against the Bill.

The MP was speaking at Siaya Central primary school, Siaya Town, at the
weekend, during a funds drive that raised Sh94,465.

The legislator accused the media of inciting the people against the MPs
by "branding them as corrupt". He was referring to questions about
allowances paid to MPs and other expenses met by the tobacco
manufacturers for the workshop.

Kenya produces only 20,000 bales of cotton annually, 100,000 fewer that
required.

Besides low productivity, the cotton farming has been affected by low
prices and delayed payments.

The area representative said this would help the local farmers who have
been at criss-cross since the cotton industry in Nyanza deteriorated.

There have been complains in the cotton industry over poor and delayed
payments and poor seedlings.




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