Economic Bondage: East Africa Farmers Worry Over What GMOs Might Mean
Uganda is bordered to the east by Kenya. The two countries trade agricultural products, including seeds. Kenya’s decision has ignited conversations around GMOs in Uganda. Those against GMOs worry the move will promote seed dependency, a form of “neo-colonialism in Africa”, as put by David Kabanda, executive director of the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights, a local NGO. Meanwhile, proponents of GMOs insist the move is solely to address the challenge of food security.
Eng Samuel Wahome
Kenya is well ahead of its neighbors in the region when it comes to infrastructure, but we still have a long way to go to catch up with developed countries. Our country has seen a boom in infrastructure projects nationwide spearheaded by the current regime. Even with the coming of the pandemic, we have continued with a flow of projects.
With issues like rising food and petroleum prices coming up, there could be fewer funds available for projects. Life must move on though because we will still need to build infrastructure. So we plan to be adaptable to changing economic and political times.
Kenyan Pastoralists: How Changing Livestock Markets Could Reduce Conflict
Over nine million Kenyans are pastoralists out of a total population of 50 million. Together they hold livestock worth over US$1 billion. Livestock is their source of food, health, and wealth.
But livestock also causes conflicts. In some Kenyan communities, clashes between farmers and pastoralists erupt due to the scramble for fodder, water and space. Farms encroach on rangelands while livestock invade farms.
