The latest came as a result of a Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto on [October 3], which sought to assess progress in the national response to the ongoing drought situation that has affected 23 counties.
During Monday’s meeting, the Cabinet considered a wide range of proposals relating to climate change adaptation, reducing Kenya’s reliance on rain-fed agriculture through increased irrigation, and the planting of diverse and drought-resistant crops.
The meeting followed an earlier Cabinet decision made on December 19, 2019 regarding the commercialization of Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) Cotton Hybrids in Kenya; this is a genetically enhanced variety of cotton that is resistant to African Bollworm, the most destructive and pervasive pest in cotton farming.
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Since November 2012, Kenya has been hesitant to approve the import or planting of genetically modified food crops due to a raging controversy over the safety of these crops, which are marketed as having several benefits, including increased yields, resistance to pests and drought, and other benefits.
