Agriculture officials in Tanzania have reportedly stepped up vigilance against the importation or illegal entry of genetically-modified (GM) crops from neighbouring Kenya, which recently allowed the use of biotechnology in farming after a 10-year ban.
Tanzanian Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe on Wednesday said “we are not open to such GM technology”.
It came after concerns were raised by some agriculture stakeholders, including consumers, of the potential entry of such crops from the neighbouring country.
“The government is vigilant. We will put in place extra measures so as to make sure there aren’t any GM-related seeds that enter the country,” Mr Bashe told The Citizen website.
The minister said Tanzania was closely monitoring the development, adding that Kenya’s move “has no effect on us”.
He further said Tanzania had cancelled GM trials, and its position was still unchanged.
Kenya’s President William Ruto on Monday said that the cabinet had approved importation and cultivation of GM crops as part of its efforts to alleviate food insecurity in the country.
