Uganda GM Maize Trials Show Promise

The ongoing confined trials in Uganda on genetically modified (GM) maize resistant to stem-borer is showing promising results. In a recent interview with journalists, Dr. Michael Otim, the principal project investigator at the National Crop Resources Research Institute in Namulonge, told The East African that all the eight lines of GM maize planted in the confined field trial in Mount Rwenzori, western Uganda, have proved resistant to the pest compared with the 12 lines of non-GM maize. The trials are part of a three-year research under the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project that started in 2008. Dr. Otim said "If the research on the GM maize proves successful in the subsequent trials, the crop could be commercialized in the country by 2017, subject to the enactment of the biotechnology law."

Scientists say stalk-borers in Uganda are currently rampant in Kasese, western Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, causing at least 20 per cent crop loss for farmers every year. Dr. Otim said the next phase will involve a second trial at Namulonge in central Uganda.

Uganda's trials on Bt maize are being carried out in tandem with those for transgenic drought tolerant (DT) maize as well as stalk-borer resistance using conventional methods.

Kenya is also carrying out confined field trials on the GM maize resistant to the pest at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute. WEMA is a sub-regional, public-private partnership project between the Nairobi-based African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and national agro-research systems of five sub-Saharan African countries — Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa.