This dialogue showcases how precision biotechnology can decouple agricultural productivity from chemical dependency, offering a pragmatic blueprint for food security in the Global South. It represents a vital shift from reactive farming to proactive, science-driven resilience.
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Monday report interview | Modern crop technology shaping potato farmingAdded:
And thank you for staying with the Monday report. The town hall session begins right now. We are still continuing our series called the farmers forum and this evening we're speaking about potato faming. We are live from Nakuru County University. Potato farming is a very interesting conversation because it forms a livelihood for thousands of farmers across the country but is also a staple food for millions of Kenyans in their families. However, farmers continue to face a lot of challenges. One of them being the late blight disease which has caused fast increased production costs and also dwindling yields. But is there a solution to this conversation? And that's why we are here this evening to speak about Shangi Kinga. It is a new biotech variety of potato. Is it the solution going forward? That's why with me are experts this evening as we speak about that and also we'll talk to the farmers to get their lived experience.
How will this impact potato farming in the different regions? We'd like to hear from you at Trevor at Citizen TV Kenya.
Use the hashtag citizen Monday report.
You can also have a conversation online.
We're calling it let's talk GMO. Let's have that conversation. And let me introduce my guest starting from my immediate left here. Leonard Bor is here is the county executive committee member CCM for agriculture, livestock and fisheries from Nakuru County. Thank you very much for making time. Right next to him is Saran Dutakin Jewish. She's a farmer from right Nakuru County. Has been growing potatoes for quite some time. Thank you for making time. Next to her is Dr. Moses Nyongesa, chief research scientist and plant pathologist, Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization, Calro.
Thank you very much for making time.
Next to him is Eric Kurer, principal biosafety officer from the National Biosafety Authority. Thank you very much for making time. In the audience, I'm joined by regulators, research institutions, also farmers and the students from Egaton University. Will give them a chance to ask all the questions they may have about potato farming in their own way, in their own language. And that's also the point we'd like to hear from you at Trevor at Citizen TV Kenya. Use the hashtag citizen Monday report. And that's not all. I have quite a number of experts as well in the audience. On the front row, Dr. Susan Oteno is a potato breed and central director at Calro Tiggoni Potato Research Center. Thank you for making time. Dr. Samson Camuna is here. He's a center director, biotechnology research center. Calro from Cabeta. Thank you very much for making time. Dr.Wame Aggerero is here as well. He's a seed system specialist international potato center. that is CIP. Thank you very much for making time. On the other side is Abed Madangu is a biosafety specialist and plant pathologist African Agricultural Technology Foundation AATF.
Thanks for making time. Next to him is Dr. Benjamin Kuva, director crop system from Calo. Thank you for making time.
And next to him is Dr. James Karanja, center director, Kalo Norro. Thank you very much for making time. And next to him is Lilian Samoy, a technical officer from the CCM's office and also the county crops officer from Nakuru. Thank you for making time. As you can see, all the experts are here to answer all the questions you may have about potato farming, especially Shangi Kinga. And to get into that, let me start off with the CC. Linda, thanks for making time for us here. So, let's talk about this issue around farming of potatoes. What does this crop mean economically and socially for the people of Nakur? Thank you uh Trevor. Uh of course my name is Leonard B the in charge of agriculture livestock fisheries and veterary services and uh we're really grateful to have this conversation. Uh ta this is a very important value chain for us. In fact for Nakuro County it is a priority value chain. Why is it a priority value chain?
because it is the most second staple food crop after maze and um our farmers be it small scale, large scale are doing this uh value chain and so to set it clear is that uh and uh we take it uh we take pride in the production of uh this particular crop. uh just to remind the audience and uh Buob TV is that uh Nakuro County is the second is the leading actually is the leading producer of this uh potato actually standing at 15% of the national production uh that is uh being grown by 150 farmers across the county uh of course across the the the nine subcounties that are doing uh this value chain. um that is giving us about 580 metric tons which translate to about 15 billion in terms of revenue that is coming to our county. So you can see >> billion >> billion.
>> So you can see clearly how it is transforming the livelihoods. It is bring bringing us income for the many farmers in Aurora County.
>> Okay. Let me bring in Sarah here. Sarah has been a farmer of potatoes for quite some time. Sarah, so paint for us a picture of how this farming looks like right now and what does late blight mean for your production costs especially.
>> Thank you. My name is Sarah as I've said I come from county wide how does the the way it affect the farmers?
It reduce the production when you are farming and it affect the whole crop.
You might end up losing the whole crop.
Another thing you might not get good profit for that. The profit is low because of that. Another thing you might end up spending a lot of money spraying your crop. The spray provider will be there coming to your farm spraying all the time and that will affect the farmers. Another thing you might not have food on your family, >> it might make that your family it is not having some food because the red bite have already affected your crop.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> In order to deal with this disease, how many times do you spray in a per season?
We we normally spray a lot of time when >> after 3 months uh two weeks >> you spray >> every two weeks.
>> Yeah. Okay.
>> You might end up spraying for six time before the crop grow.
>> Okay.
>> Yes.
>> All right. Let me bring in Dr. Moses Yongesa on this now. Moses, we we understand that Calro developed an improved biotech version which is I was talking about earlier on. Shangi Kinga.
Yes. explain to us what this is and how does it help.
Uh thank you very much uh Trevor and um let me take this opportunity to thank the Royal Media Service and Citizen TV for focusing attention on this important national discussion as we see how to leverage the support and the contribution of each player in the industry to bring about a solution to the um problems facing potato farming in Kenya.
And uh to the farmers in the audience in this town hall meeting and those who are watching from across the country, I salute you because of your lived experiences which and your expectations which are the reason why um the Kenya Agricultural and Research Organization exist uh and also justifies its mandate which is to lead the uh development of uh technologies to support crop and livestock farming and generally uh support the the strengthening of agriculture in the country towards national development.
And uh as we talk about the lift experiences of farmers, uh we are alive to the challenges which are happening now with the changing climate and uh um uh situations around that which is the extreme uh developments and outbreaks of diseases.
Uh the main one of those is blight that affects pharmacies. We have had 100,000 of those are in Akur County representing another one which is a total of about 1 million uh potato farmers in the country.
And so talking about blight and it is associated uh climate change exacerbations.
We find that we have to find a solution and therefore car working in partnership here in Kenya with the international potato center has developed a shangi kinga. So shangi kinga is just more than a variety. It is a a comprehensive solution that brings um uh a solution to the farmers to overcome uh this disease and simultaneously reducing the usage of fungicides.
uh thereby abetting the losses and increasing the amount of money that gets into the pockets of those farmers.
So this solution has been delivered through uh application of modern biotechnology tools um uh which is genetic modification to fortify a previously susceptible bright susceptible variety uh called shiangi uh to equip it with a trade that uh enables it now to become um immune to blight. So we have a variety that is now um that has inbuilt resistance uh to blight.
So when farmers grow and as we have heard from uh the farm the testimony of the farmer here so there is this now m medic mitigation of the disease through this natural resistance. Mhm.
>> So this is the contribution that Caro together with the partners bring.
>> Okay.
>> And it is the reason we are here to discuss >> Yeah.
>> uh the possible adoption uh to reverse the losses and the challenges that farmers are facing.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Let me bring in Eric on this. Eric, so we already know now that Shangi Kinga is the potato variety that is resistant to late blight disease. Okay. It's a biotech developed potato. You and I have had conversations around safety of biotechnology for quite some time now.
How is this technology being assessed and what safeguards exist before farmers can access it?
>> Yeah, thank you so much uh Trevor and uh thank you farmers and everyone here uh and having us in this show. Uh my name is Eric Kur from National Biosafety Authority. I am a principal biosafety officer.
uh first uh to explain what the NBA is all about. NBA is a agency under the uh state department of agriculture, ministry of agriculture and our role is to ensure that uh or to supervise and to control the development, the use, the handling and the transfer of genetically modified organisms in can in the country. Why are we doing that?
We are doing this to ensure or to protect our people to protect the animals and to protect our environment.
Uh having seen that u one of our role that we have as the authority is to assure the country that any GMO that is being developed or that is being commercialized here in Kenya is safe.
How do we do that? Uh first we do what we call safety assessments for these products. And to bring into context uh the shiangu or shangi kenya um what happens is carro or an applicant makes an application to MBA. In NBA it goes through a rigorous scientific assessment. This assessment Trevor is done uh based on number of principles. Number one is that it is done on based on science. That means scientific data has to be generated and the decision that is being made will be based on the scientific data. That's number one. Number two is that uh as we assess these uh products of GMO, we assess them on case by case basis. That means each each GMO has to be assessed individually. The third principle is that we rely on international accepted standards that has been accepted internationally by uh to give examples from maybe FA that is a food agriculture organization of the UN they have standards that applies globally. So um now those are I've just mentioned the principles that we follow when doing the assessment or safety assessments of these products. Uh internally what happens is that uh how to determine the safety of these products is that uh it is two levels. We have what we call food and food safety assessment that level and again what we call environmental safety assessments.
So uh under food and food safety assessment what happens is that um these products are assessed uh to check if there is any potential uh toxicities.
Another thing we do is to check whether these products have a potential allergenicities and again we do what we call comparative compositional analysis.
What we mean by comparative uh compositional analysis is very simple.
We're just comparing our conventional the local local variety shangi together we compare it with uh the now the improved the biotech shangi and what we do is just get the compositional nutrients analysis of both proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and all that and also from the other one we compare the two and it should uh there should not be any significant difference. If there is any significant difference then it means we do further testing and further analysis to check whether is if it is high increase of proteins does it have any effect. Yeah.
So that's how uh food and food safety assessment is done.
>> Now coming to environmental assessment because also remember our role is also to protect our environment. How do we do uh environmental safety assessment? We check uh out there in the field then uh we scientists collect data on uh effects of this product on what we call the non target. Remember probably this was targeting uh a disease but remember in the environment there are other things around there.
>> Yeah. So we check whether there are those especially like bees the pollinators we check whether this product affects the population of bees or pollinators in the environment.
>> We also check the issues of invasiveness or persistence. We don't want a product that when it is rolled out there it becomes persistent in the environment.
Yeah. So we also look at all that and we assess them and uh once that is assessed then uh uh it is given an approval and uh the process of giving approval. Yeah Trevor >> uh it starts from the biosafety issu issues biosafety level >> and within the biosafety uh assessment is done by experts. We have experts who help us to do the assessments and they give us comments.
We also do internal our own internal assessment >> as well. We also consult relevant regulatory agencies. For this case for the uh uh for this potato product we consulted keis. Okay.
>> And they also gave us their input.
>> Uh so now as we move to the the next of stage of environmental release, it is a requirement that also we engage the public. So we'll still come to these farmers ask them explain to them and let them give us their opinion and then an approval is given based now on all that analysis.
>> Okay, we'll engage the farmers in just a short while and I'll open the floor for questions and reactions from the farmers here and also to hear their lived experience. But let me bring in Dr. Susan on this. Susan is potato breed and center director KL Rotiggoni. You know Susan anytime we speak about biotechnology there's always a bit of caution from the farmers. What would you say to the farmers who are a bit cautious about this improved technologies and whether they're wondering can they grow conventional potatoes side by side with this shangi kinga which is improved.
>> Thank you very much Mr. Trevor. Um I want to allay the fears that our farmers are having on the biotech potato the shangi kinga. It can be grown side by side with the conventional potatoes that we are having the normal shanki that we have uh with the farmers and I am talking from a point of um um a breeder because uh I know some farmers would be thinking maybe there will be crosspollination when it goes to the field with the conventional bread uh potatoes but This cannot happen. Maybe without going to the through the science of potato which is different from cereals.
>> You know potato is crosspollinated just like the other cereals but it's a science for the seed >> h is different because we do the clones.
You know the tubers are the ones that we multiply in the field as opposed to legumes >> which you multiply the seeds or the uh the graminess that is the cereals >> you also multiply seed but for potato we multiply the tuba. So there will be no uh chances of crosspollination that can affect their conventionally produced potatoes.
>> Yeah. Secondly, as we do this uh research of the biotech potato, you also realize that NPA and KEFIS is highly involved.
As my colleague has already alluded to the fact that they do all those uh environmental and impact assessment of these uh potato to the field to the environment to animals and to the other crops. So farmers should be ready to embrace this technology because then it will reduce the amount of pesticides you know or the fungicides that you apply to your field and uh this will you know increase your yields >> and also reduce cost of production.
>> Okay. But what do you say to the farmers who are cautious who say GMO causes cancer for example? It's a myth that everybody talks about even online.
Um I would tell the farmers not to fear but you you see it's choices as you are bringing the technology you'll have some who will be quick adopters right of the technology as they wait and see.
>> Yeah.
>> And also you'll have some who will be ready to pick the technology. So as we are bringing farmers on board, we are encouraging them to start. But those who are still cautious, we are also not leaving them behind because they will learn from other farmers. Right?
>> If you I plant my field and uh my neighbor also plants the conventional and we see when the blight pressure is high.
>> Don't you think the other farmer will because sometimes seeing is believing.
>> Yeah. So we are not uh pushing this technology down their throats but we are seeing telling them there is science behind it that um you can see >> and the data is there for all of us to see that this technology is good for our farmers.
>> Okay thank you please pass the microphone next to Dr. Samson Kamuna who's a center director at the biotechnology research center calo in Kabete and you know Dr. Earlier on we were speaking about younger people in farming. How can innovation like this attract the younger people into agriculture as a modern business and can potatoes be viewed as more than just food?
>> Thank you Trey Farm. Uh thank you audience. Um yes um you know when young people see potato they see chipo that's what they call them. For us old men, we see moim.
>> Uh for young people, um this potato you see here, the shanki king or even any other potato has a wide array of applications that are quite attractive to our young people. I don't know whether they've ever heard of uh potato starch engineering.
The starch from potato is one of the best, the most preferred. It The industrial application of starch from potato fies from pharmaceuticals, textile, paper packaging, um even um things like uh bioplastic and this is where our young people can come in. When we move from the normal subsistence farming to um mechanized farming um to industrial application of potato this where our young people would really fight alone and they'll be very happy to participate in because um start from potatoes the when when you talk of fiscosity um um uh you can use um improve I use starch from potato to be as thickeners as bers when it comes to uh paper and packaging is the best biting. It makes the the service glossy and that make it easy for the uh printing to be easy and also um you reduce on ink. Um when it comes to uh pharmaceuticals it is used as B for the tablet and for capsules you it it is a very good filler >> when it is when it comes to bakery uh we know most people do not use wheat based product because of gluten starch from potato is gluten-free. So we have all sorts of alternatives for those who want to go to venture into hospitality industry um solutions are there. Then when it comes to um uh use of uh normal process of industrial extraction of starch there's what is normally left the potato the starch pulp which can be dried and it is used as animal feed. it is quite nutrientrich and uh again uh young people will have find a place there. So once we embrace um mechanized farming and that is what young people would like to see because you know I know we fear Ken J and pangas that's not for young people >> but when it come to mechanization >> and uh our farmers grow employing and therefore production increases >> the issue of uh where do we put take excess potato >> is should not lies because we have are moving to the next level which is industrialization and this is where our young people will find a place uh a role to play.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you Dr. Let me bring in another doctor. I'm giving you all the scientists that you need to hear from this evening. Drwam Aggerero is a research associate international potato center. And Dr. Are there broader social economic benefits from innovations like this apart from just productivity?
>> Okay. Uh thank you Trevor. I would also like to first thank the farmers who are here and those who are not here for the good work that they do in feeding our country. However, we should realize that uh farming is no longer for you know subsistence is a business. Uh today morning I was engaging with one of the younger farmers here uh from Ilbagon who was very excited about his potato production. He is looking at you know what he's going to get at the end of the season. Um and this is someone who has a different profession but prefer has seen the opportunities in farming. So all of us should work towards safeguarding our farmers uh from losses. And then uh this is now where we link this to this technology to how it will will ensure that uh we go beyond productivity but to other social economic benefits also benefit to the uh you know human health and the environment.
uh shanki shanki kinga the key is that we want to reduce yield losses uh but why do we want to reduce the yield losses currently about 80% of the farmers in Kenya uh report 30 to 60% uh yield losses because of late blade uh if you narrow that down to per acre we expect that a farmer should get about 00 bucks uh from one acre if he apply he or she applies all the required agonomic good agonomic practices. So if you are going to talk about 30 to 60% losses then you are talking about 30 to 60 bugs lost per acre. And if you multiply by maybe a selling price per bag of 3,500 then you're talking about a loss of between 105,000 to 210,000 Kenya shillings per acre. That's a lot to a farmer. But now when you embrace technology uh from the assessment that we've done a farmer can actually realize a net profit of uh of 105,000 uh per acre per season and uh nationally when you do cumulative production annually of you know the adopters of this technology uh this can lead to about 846 million net profit cumulatively for all the farmers.
But then now when you take it further down in terms of poverty reduction uh talking let's say of a baseline of about and uh 300 thou,000 farmers adopting uh annually 3,000 farmers annually. Those that's the number of figures we are looking at at the baseline in terms of early adopters. we can get about 3,000 farmers uh or households out of uh poverty which is very good for economic development. But beyond again yield we talked about savings farmers use fungicides as one of the pro uh you know the inputs. So by reducing uh fungicide use by 90% you are also saving a lot of money which can be reinvested elsewhere. It can go to school fees, it can go to other businesses. So there's a lot that is gained from both you know the output you get and the input side. Uh but beyond now the economic benefits there is the human health benefits. Uh currently farmers are exposed to uh these chemicals when they are spraying. By reducing uh uh those sprays by over 90% you are also reducing the expos exposure and also you realize that actually when there's that question talked asked about cancer some of the these chemicals that are used have are have been you know identified as casinos. So already currently there's that exposure >> to this cancer causing uh you know agents which this technology will actually reduce >> and eventually it's also sustainable to the environment because you are you are reducing uh environmental exposure uh to these chemicals. My colleague here has also talked about industrialization.
So higher yields will not just translate to more food on the table or in the markets but it will also mean that the industry has stable uh you know um supply of the raw materials that they require. Uh therefore I would like to say that this uh solution king shanki kinga solution is not just about productivity is a systems level uh solution that will contribute to increased incomes immense benefits on human health uh the environment but and uh all the players across the potato value chain >> uh are going to gain a lot in terms of you know economic opportunities that are going to be there.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you Dr.Wame. Let me bring in Abed Madagu who's a biosafety specialist and plant pathologist at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation that's AATF. And it's interesting AB that what Dr.Wam has just mentioned that when you speak to farmers sometimes and you talk about biotechnology they feel like this is something that is not natural. It's unnatural and it might even cause certain diseases and yet they don't mind using the fungicides which in advertently cause even more diseases that have been proven scientifically to cause more diseases when they spray in their farms. So how do you ensure that people understand this? How do we demystify this conversation that biotechnology may not be a natural as such and you actually face more risks using fungicides to treat diseases like late black disease?
Yeah, thank you very much uh Trevor. Uh let me begin at the ground to say first of all a bit I am a scientist trained by taxpayers money. So that is my allegiance. I have to give them value >> for that training.
>> We we are helping farmers in Kenya as well as in Africa. So a lot of the work being done by by my colleagues here is not just helping farmers here. We know it because we are in that constituency.
We are helping farmers in Rwanda, in in Nigeria, in Ethiopia, in many other parts of the world.
>> So there is a lot of expertise in Kenya.
Is it natural or not natural? I think it is possible some people are hearing the word biotechnology for the first time just like somebody could hear AI for the first time.
>> So maybe we are guilty a bit as a scientist for using terminologies.
But just to assure that when our grandmothers were were fermenting porridge in the gad sometimes they didn't understand what is in that gad but that was some form of biotechnology then we moved to grafting you know people were familiar with grafting with tissue culture that was a form of biotechnology even farmers in animal world were using AI you know they go and get cement from a bigger bull to improve their is a is a technology so that I'm not guilty maybe we should say this is in you using your knowledge uh so you will know that the word has increased in knowledge in many places whether it is the phone or the cars the cars are very efficient now so we have not been left behind in in agriculture in biology the tools we were using 30 years ago we have also moved so people have improved the grafting the the tissue culture to be able to know what is that trait that I want and because of this increase in knowledge they can go and select that treat only and use a tool that allows you to pick only one in a faster way a more precise way and we call it biotechnology because you know is terminology of the scientist but in UI >> to know that I can be able to identify move it so it is not completely new but we give the information and let the farmers judge whether it is new or is an improvement of something we have been doing after all.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you very much. Let me bring in Dr. Benjamin Kuva the director crop systems culture as well. You know some people ask whether this is foreign technology.
What should Kenyans understand about how this innovation was developed?
Uh thank you Trevor and I would like the audience to know that well Carlo is mandated to undertake agricultural research development of technologies that will help agriculture productivity in this country and biotechnology is one of it and caros scientists have taken lead in transforming the normal shiangi which you into resistant changi to late blight.
They have worked with the partners from based at international lifestyle research institute based in Nairobi to develop uh this uh shangi kinga technology as you know 90 80% of the potato grown in this country is shangi almost 80% and farmers know it is susceptible to late blight But now our scientist in partners with our partners are managed to convert this shangi to tolerant or resistant shiangi to late blight.
Um this is a great breakthrough in the agricultural sector in this country and it has been approved by national bio of safety authority that is safe for use in this country and it has been also approved by national um environment management authority to be safe for environment.
So I will say this is a safe technology when it comes when it's ready for use.
Let's use it. It will help us to ensure food security in the country.
>> Okay. Right next to you is Dr. James Karanja, the center director for cal as well in Joro and Dr. You and I have had conversation about maze and now we're talking about potatoes here. What is the role of research institutions in ensuring that farmers benefit from innovations like this?
Thank you Trevor.
Uh I think one of our roles as a research institution is to make sure that uh the research we are carrying out one it is farmerdriven.
Whatever technology we are going to come up with is able to answer the questions and the challenges the farmer is facing.
Just like the way we are talking about the redbrite here in potato that is what the farmer want. Two is to make sure that that research that we are doing we are also linking it to the farmer. So we should not leave the farmer behind and that is why we have this kind of a conversation now to make sure that this technology that we have developed it is demanded by the farmer and we have that conversation with the farmer that we have brought we are bringing this solution. This solution is also addressing the climate change the new and the challenges that might haunt the production at the farmers level.
Number three, we need to look at also the issue of the seed system because once we have this technology as the researcher, we have also to make sure that we are talking about Shanki here. How is it going to how is the seed going to get to the farmer? We must work with the partner and making sure that the system is there availing not just seed but quality seed that by the end of the day will give back the farmer the yield the benefit that is meant to >> and we must also bring the county is here to making sure that these farmers that are here are educated not because we have brought the redbrite but the other aronomic practices are well packaged and the farmer is educated so that to realize the full benefit and finally we must communicate the way we are communicating here with all the stakeholders with all the pro the policy makers with all the people within in the value chain in making sure that we build trust on the technology. We auxiliarate the technology and make sure it is availed to the farmer. So that the question that the technology that we have just one of the tool biotech we have used to get the king the shangi kinga is safe and the farmer to be told we do not have any biotech product other than cotton in this country. So when somebody is saying that cancer is brought by biotech then we must talk and they say we don't have any that kind of a biotech product in the country. So what is the cause the number of sprays that exposure the six 10 times the farmer is interacting with that fungicide >> that's where we have the issue that is our mandate as the research institution.
Thank you. Let let me bring in Lilian Samoy on this. Lilian Samoy is the county crops officer in Nakuru. What are some of the challenges you've seen when it comes to potato farming and is Shangi Kinga the solution we've been looking for?
>> Thank you Drea and the farmers. Uh one of the key challenges that Nakuru farmers face in terms of potato production is the seed access. there's a challenge of getting quality seed and also cost of production going very high because of the number of sprays. So with the Shangi Kinga coming in on on board, it will be able to reduce that cost of production because the farmers will not be spraying a lot as well as also getting a seed that is resistant to the disease that brings down the the yields.
The other advantage that this Shangi Kinga is going to bring down is the n the the issue of safety especially human health because the number of sprays the exposure to the fungicides that are not safe to health to the soil and even to the environment. So that's what we have in Nakuru County and uh currently we also implementing the agroecology policy which is trying to bring down the number of sprays and also farming with nature to ensure that we are improving our soil health and we also doing the right thing. Thank you.
>> Thank you. I have to take a quick break here on the Monday report town hall session. We in Auru County in Eagleton University speaking about potato farming. Just by a show of hands how many farmers and may have questions. any questions that we have here before I take that quick break. I see there's a question over there and another one over here. Yes, there are quite a number of questions. So when we come back from this break, we'll now hand over the microphone to the people and they ask the questions. I have more than 11 experts in the auditorium. So we'll be able to answer those questions in just a short while. Keep your views coming as well online at trembantv Kenya. Use the hashtag citizen Monday report. You can also have a conversation online at let's talk GMO. All right, we're back in just a short while.
All right, it's a very short break. It's not even a break per say. It's just to bridge. When we come back, let me see the people who had questions. I saw your hand up. Yes, let's pass the microphones to them.
I also saw your hand up. There's a lady over here, the student leader. Per balance it per lady. There's a lady here. Then you'll pass up on Mocha Maliza. Then there's a gentleman over there.
So now when we come back, it's time for just questions. And for the experts in the in the area, if there's a question that comes through that you think you're good enough to answer, just raise your hand. We'll give you the microphone because we have a total of 11 of you here. So you should be able to answer all the questions.
be brief so that we answer as many as possible.
There are more than uh five. Stand if you have a question. Those people who have a question mama so that we know where you are. Just stand stand.
Questions questions questions questions questions. See, it's it's almost the entire audience.
Up to the end. Up to the end. Yes.
There too many. We can't track all of them.
have a total of 11 experts. So, and the seven here see yeah we'll just brief them right now. Okay.
So, just for clarity purposes, you may direct a question directly to one of the panelists if you know their name. If you don't, you can say I'm speaking to I would like a scientist to respond and then don't repeat a question. If your question has been asked, you've been answered already. So there's no need of repeating the question. Kindly, let's just have one question per person because we are quite a number direct.
Yeah.
We'll start with the student leader.
Madame Vice President, do they need to stand? Robert, >> no. Don't stand.
>> Okay.
From here Stand from here. You have a question.
Please don't.
So when we come back all the way to the end of the show ask the question we answer to. Yeah.
Stand by. We are coming back. Where's the microphone? First microphone papa.
The second one. Where's the second microphone? Over there. S. So this is this team of our from that camera.
You'll have to stand because of the camera angles back here. Saw. We're coming back.
Stand by.
Thank you for staying with the man report town hall session. It's still the farmers forum. We're in Auru County at the Egurtton University speaking about potato faming here and especially Shangi Kinga which is a biotech improved variety that is resistant against late blight disease and that's a conversation we're having here. Quite a number of questions from the audience. I have a total of 11 experts to answer all the questions you may have about this. I start with you. Just start your name and your question please.
>> Thank you for this insightful discussion. My name is Jen Weru Kamau the vice president of sik donaton university and also a student pursuing bachelor of science in agriculture. My question is what which are the measures that you are putting in place to make sure that the farmers access the seeds.
For example, you saying the shangi kinga which is resistance to late blight and also you have a suggestion that uh we should have those extension education to farmers to make sure that they understand the bio technology. Thank you.
>> Okay, that should be answered by Moses.
Yes. Access to seeds.
>> Yes.
>> Yes. Go ahead. Just answer it as we go.
>> Thank you very much, Jen. And uh I congratulate you for choosing a career in science.
Um it just demonstrates that there is a future for agriculture in this country.
Um so as we talk about this technology um uh your question is very valid about the aspects of seed access and uh I confirm that we have as an organization car thought through uh this issue carefully and uh we just like other technologies which have been approved for dissemination we have pathways uh that uh create opportunities for investment first of all. So there's a deliberate effort to license seed growers once the approvals have all been received because this is a highly regulated uh technology development process. As you have heard the national bio safety authority here uh is overseeing the process. Um and there is also another organization called the Kenya brand health inspectorate service that are both overseeing this process all the way to the conclusion and aail the reports to facilitate the national release of the variety.
So which will set the stage for commercialization and for commercialization there will be private seed companies which are in local seed merchants that will enter into um a framework with caro to multiply these varieties uh this the seed for this variety and uh utilizing their outlets and distribution networks. Uh some of them are doing this seat multiplication within the counties and working again closely with the counties to see how many uh more of these seed enterprises can be facilitated to access and multiply this seed for availing to the farmers.
>> Okay. So as I as I as I speak about seat availability upon approval and final commercialization, we are aware that as we are engaging with the stakeholders in forums like these ones, we generating quite a demand and uh in our program as caro we establish demonstration sites to facilitate what is called seeing as believing. So for this we are putting and multiplying quantities of seed so that because this will again be uh supervised activities with the regulators >> for establishing those those uh learning sites and the c2 leave >> okay >> demonstration points. All right.
>> So I I hope that has been answered and on the question of the extension >> um as you know agriculture is a devolved function and we are glad to have the county government in fact I wanted on the panel so I think our c will be able to answer yeah >> was it on access to information to farmers.
>> Thank you. Um we I want to appreciate that uh as a county and I believe that is the reason why we are the leading county in terms of uh potato is we are privileged to have to host most of the research institutions one of course is cultural the other one is university and many others and of course we have also a network of seat merchants led by the government owned organizations such as ADC and we working very closely as it has been said that these new varieties really needs to reach the farmer who is the beneficiary of these innovations, these technologies and innovations. Uh with our network of extension services, we make sure that we sensitize our farmers. We give them the information that why should they now move from the ordinary Shangi to the most improved Hangi Kinga. So our networks uh working in collaborations using our barasas, our uh field uh uh demonstrations should be able to uh make sure that we bridge the gap that these farmers need to have the information on why they should adopt the new varieties.
>> Okay, there's still a lot of questions that are there. Yes, sir. You have the microphone.
>> Thank you, Stu.
I'm Robert a farmer from county sub I'd like to direct my question to to Dr. why chose and we have so many varieties of potatoes thank you >> okay Dr. Why shi and yet there are many other varieties.
>> We had to start with the point at which the farmer is feeling the pain and uh we know that shangi is a popular variety grown by many farmers.
Uh and that is where we started having to address the challenge of blight using a variety that is already well established.
But this is not to mean that that is the only variety in which this technology will be uh integrated.
Uh there are other varieties also already commercialized in Kenya which are in development and in the pipeline. So Shangi is the trailer as we would say but uh it doesn't mean that the technology will only be limited to Shangi.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> So it's a matter of choice.
>> It's a matter of choice.
>> Let's move to this other side. Yes.
>> Okay. Thank you uh for this noble discussion.
I'm very excited because uh uh to be here I'm su a farmer and also a world agriculture and extension officer within mon world and uh I'm happy to have the farmer who is there is within my ward and also my waziri now my question is on um because when we mention of this shangi we talk of food safety and also So food security on food uh uh security is okay. Uh but my question is how do we protect those farmers who feel that they don't want to adopt because I believe that the GMOs even in the market are supposed to be reled majority of my farmers do reing of farms and we understand that after harvesting we have those small charts that are left in the farm. So once the first uh uh farmer has reached and has gone, then there are those seeds that are left behind, how do we protect those farmers who unknowingly end up having those uh shangi? Thank you.
>> How do you protect the farmers? This can come to Wazir as well and also Eric.
Yeah, we'll start with you. How do you protect the farmers who don't want to adopt this new technology? I think uh drivers that's been said is about choice and u uh equally we have several varieties and our farmers have opportunity to really select on what they want but again it boils to what we do um on extension services how do we sensitize how do we give so it's about information what are we giving to our farmers >> yeah and I think this is this show is very important uh asking that uh maybe in collaboration with the partners whom we are working together Ky's uh calro and of course bio safety authority really do sensitization to give these farmers the importance of adopting these new technologies. One is on increasing the the productivity. Two is on reducing the cost of management. Yeah. Because when you when the cost is so high definitely this is an agri business enterprise. So if the cost is so high the income goes down. So it's about the information that we give it outside there.
>> Okay. And someone just out of curiosity now that you already have the microphone and as an extension officer yourself and you heard what DrWam also mentioned earlier on that this has potential of elevating more than 3,000 farmers out of poverty. When they come to you and they tell you that I'm losing 30 to 60% of my potatoes to late blight disease. What do you tell them? Do you tell them to continue with their fungicides or do you tell them to adopt technology?
>> Uh based on the maybe the campaign of the agricology farming that we are trying to engage farmers one we are trying as much as possible to advise them not to use chemicals. Actually the first thing you do in management is to use other alternatives other cultural ways that the farmer can use without necessarily spraying the chemicals because we are monitoring of uh of the crops once they are growing.
So it means then that ar detection whether it is bite or any other disease can't be managed with other ways without necessarily using those chemicals.
>> Okay. But at least with with a new variety after sensitization and I want to believe that there we shall have publications that we can use to disseminate the same information to the farmers >> so that they can uh adopt this technology.
>> Okay.
>> But we are doing a campaign to uh minimize the use of chemicals in whichever manner of farming.
>> Okay. So that is what we do and then once we have such variety which are maybe tolerant to such uh diseases >> then uh the farmers because these farmers believe on us. We are the last the last mile officers or maybe technical people who usually give information to the farmers.
>> So once we give them that information then they are ready to take it up.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you. That's why I asked you because I know they come to you as extension officer and to just out of curiosity to hear what you tell them.
And Eric, there was an important question that some will ask. How do you protect farmers who don't want to adopt this new technology?
>> Yeah, thank you so much. Uh number one is that you must realize that once this product is approved, it is safe. So it's not about safety. Safety has been determined. So what what is out there is what was say choice.
>> And how we do that is we require that these products that has been approved must be labeled. The law requires that it has to be labeled for one to for two or three reasons. One is for that informed choice. You want uh shangi kinga it is labeled it is your choice. You don't want it is still your choice. So this we are not pushing this to farmers. We are asking those seed entrepreneurs and merchants to label their products. It is GM so that uh we farmers can be able to distinguish and make a choice. We also label for the purposes of traceability just in case of anything happens ble then we are able to trace back and take mitigation measures.
So uh yeah it is not about safety but it is about choices.
>> Okay there are still more questions.
Yes. Yes sir.
>> Thank you. My name is Brian Ket from Keso South Kate. I am a student and a former h. Let me direct my question to Bonawazeri. Mr. Leonard Bar H as Madame Dutak will tell you that we grow for the farm for for the market and has on your account uh has the government done a research or uh maybe let me say a research under uh the the market or maybe a market service that they could determine uh anything or the let me say they could determine uh preferences for the people or for the farmers so that they we could provide for the market whatever they need. Thank you.
>> Okay. Yes. Wasi and I think this also Dr.Wame should be able to respond to this as well. So I'll pass the microphone to DrWamame whether there's been market survey on preference. Yes.
>> Um thank you uh Brian Kibet. Uh what we do we work with uh several of course several of takers and uh during our field days during our our farmer uh meetings and baras we sensitize farmers on what is best for what you know this is a crop that is for is both a food crop and also industrial crop and so the choices that are there in the market and we really appreciate that we have different varieties that serves different purposes. So it's about making sure that our farmers have this necessary information in regards to the issue of market in regards to the issue of productivity and what we've done as a county is also to make sure that we have aggregation around because when you aggregate of course you are pulling uh volumes so that you can always bargain in for the best prices. So we've done we are doing aggregation centers around and also making sure that we also improve on posth harvest management because sometimes you farm a harvest and you find that maybe the the prices are low at that particular moment. So that's why we we are doing the the call stores around and we will continue to do that but we partner a lot with the off takers. Yeah.
>> Okay. Drwami you can respond to that and all the other experts who are here more than 11 of you. If if you have to response just raise your hand and I'll give you a chance.
>> Okay. Um thank you for that question. I would actually start by tying it with that the other question on why Shanki and not the other varieties. Um when you you realize this that this technology is new. So that's why uh we opted to first of all go with the most market preferred variety. Shanki currently is grown by more than 80% um of the farmers because that's what the market demands. Uh and now when you go to marketing when you have a new product uh you heard that uh these products will be labeled as required by NBA.
As we head towards commercialization, we will also be doing uh communication and sens sensitization of all stakeholders, the consumers um you know the traders so that they can also understand that this product has been approved. It's safe and it's not different from the the other shanki.
Actually when it comes to safety is even better because it's have been grown with uh limited use of uh fungicides and that can also give an opportunity to traders to actually package it in a uh you know had a value proposition that this has been grown with limited uh use of um of pesticide. So it offers kind of a certain value to the market. Yeah. Uh but the main thing is that any technology as it is it is introduced as you commercialize you have to engage with all the stakeholders and create demand >> and that demand creation begins actually from the farm with the demonstration trials at the farm but also you go to the market uh to sensitize other um you know stakeholders. Okay. Thank you.
>> All right. As you pass the mic from back there, let's take two more questions here, then I'll come to this other side.
But Sarah, just out of curiosity, as a farmer yourself, do the people really know the difference, do they know?
Oh, they don't have been introduced to this LB.
>> That is a problem. And even they don't know whether it is shangi or it is not shangi kinga.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. When they are farming but most of them when they are buying seeds they need the sangi but they don't ask for sangi kinga.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> We don't know.
>> Okay. All right. There's a question.
Let's take two this side and then come back this side again for two more. Yes sir.
>> Thank you very much uh for this interesting conversation. My name is Brian Nigamba, a student at Egaton pursuing a degree in in agriculture. Uh my question is how does the cost of uh this Shangi variet Shangi Kinga variety compare to the conventional varieties and do farmers need to buy new seeds every season or they can they recycle the seeds? Thank you.
>> Okay, I believe this is a question for Dr. How does the cost compare between Shangi and the conventional potatoes and do the farmers need to buy new seeds every season?
>> Thank you for Thank you Brian for your question and I think you ask on behalf of many farmers.
Um the assurance we give is that um this Shangi Kinga will trade at the same price as the non transformed Shangi and uh the pricing that will follow thereafter uh depending on what is happening in the farming sector you know it is very dynamic.
um will will of course be informed by the the the the forces of supply and demand. But um as it is now the the price for Shangi Kinga will be equivalent to the certified Shangi conventional variety.
>> Okay. Do they need new every season? The the advantage of having to go back to getting certified seed has many advantages to the farmer because it prevents the accumulation of diseases because each time you farm your your your potatoes there is a an accumulation of diseases that begin to depress your yields in subsequent seasons. This could be viruses or neatodes.
So when you go to to buy certified seed and that is a recommendation that we give as a research organization and it is the same message that you will get from the Kenya plant health inspector service you get the the assurance that your yields will will remain high. But I think the question you probably are asking is in favor of of a farmer who asks can I be able to save a little to replant the next season and am I assured that this resistance will persist the answer is yes.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> So the answer is a direct yes. Okay. One more question this side then we go to this other side. Take two more. Yes.
>> Thank you very much. My name is Dennis from Moawward potato farmer. So my question is my question is uh to Mr. Dr. My question is so uh ifa is available which is shiat how long does it take to reach the farmers and how will you make sure that the demand is met >> okay Dr. How long will it take to reach the farmers and how do you ensure there's demand?
>> Okay. Um, thank you Dennis for your question and I think it ties closely with the answer that we had given earlier which is that because this is a process that is running towards conclusion which will will be signaled by the um formal release paving the way for commercialization.
Once that is done um the seed companies will be engaged immediately to start the production and the variety will become immediately available to the farmers.
>> Okay. How do you create demand or that will be created by the farmers themselves based on the results that >> the creation of demand is um will follow the approaches that we have used for even the conventional bread varieties because we have an interest in our technologies and products getting to be adopted by farmers.
So in the early stages of uh the adoption of this variety we will use the available platforms uh including in caro we have what we call the open science week where we open all our institutes and centers and we demonstrate these technologies to improve uptake. Simultaneously we have outlets in Caro which are the we have a caro uh seed uh um uh department that has distribution units across the country and which are utilized for promotion and delivery of these uh technologies. Having said that we do not work in isolation. We work together with other actors in the value chain in the potato value chain uh who have an interest in ensuring that the there's active promotion of these new technologies uh through cooperatives and working again closely with the county government >> and uh other private and uh and development uh uh actors in the value chain to ensure that there is a adequate uh promotion for last mile delivery. of this technology.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> All right. Let's take two questions from that other side now. Then we come to this side again. Yes.
>> Okay. Thank you this opportunity. My name is R Anthony from Kamara Coroy North and my question goes to our scientist there. H having inventing this uh new variety Shangi Kinga and uh and uh and and and it you have said it is resistant to the late and early bllight and you have also said that its resistivity continues in its generation. I would like to know if it will continue being strong resistant in in in the in the but the the more that you go the generation like the other new one.
>> Okay. All right. Thanks R. So will the will the subsequent plantations be resistant as well with the same capacity?
>> Yeah. The design of these technologies to assure durable resistance and how we have done this is by identifying the genes which are responsible for this resistance and we have stacked three of them. So if you have one the chances of the the disease agent evolving to overcome becomes a very high likelihood. But when you have three of them put together and integrated, it increases the chance of lengthening the durability of this resistance. So our expectation is that there will be significantly higher durability of this resistance running to u to more than uh 10 years going to 20 and perhaps even 30. So the life the lifespan and the estimations we have given as you heard from um um my colleague from the international potato center we are projecting the useful lifespan of this variety to 30 years.
But as we talk about this situation, we also are aware that there is a stewardship program that has also been put in place to monitor uh from time to time and and check whether this durability I mean whether this resistance is still present in the variety.
Simultaneously we have a replacement strategy so that continuously we have other varieties in the pipeline just in case the host resistance breaks down then there is another uh uh replacement ready for farmers.
>> Okay.
>> Uh so the assurance is that this resistance is uh expected to be durable.
>> Okay. All right. Another question from this side. Yes.
>> Okay. I'm Christina uh bachelor's of science in agriculture student idea. I have a question. My question goes to the research institutions for this Shangi variety at a consumer point of view.
What is the nutritional aspect of this Shangi Shangi variety? And if there is not, are there any plans of improving the nutritional value? Thank you.
nutritional aspect. I believe that should be for Eric or for as well.
>> I would attempt and then Eric will also compliment >> and the scientists who are here can also help us is also there. Yeah.
>> One of the mandatory um evidence that must be given when you improve a variety using this technology is to supply the data which is called nutritional composition.
And this nutritional composition is provided in comparison to the variety from which the new one has been derived.
And so the nutritional compositional data that we have um developed and availed to the regulator concerns 12 different compositional elements, nutritional elements in the potato. And on each one of those there was there was the two the the derived improved variety and the one from which it was derived were equivalent. So there has been no change and we see no need at this point to improve um um as as you're saying the fortification for other nutrients perhaps because that becomes a different objective. So what we confirm is that the nutritional composition before and after has remained essentially the same.
>> Okay. Eric, you had said earlier on that when you do the research, you check the environmental impact, the nutritional composition and whether it is safe.
>> Yes.
>> When now there's an improvement in the nutritional composition like what Christine is saying, does that then change the entire arithmetic of this >> conversation? Yeah. Depending on what what the researchers are doing, >> some may want to improve the nutrition aspect of that product.
uh for this case uh the data that was submitted to us by calro we shows that uh all the nutrients composition of these two varieties are not different they are the same. So in in in a case where one of the nutrients probably goes up or goes down then the question is what are the acceptable limits? If the product uh has a higher limit, a higher uh composition more than the acceptable limits, then that raise a safety >> issue. And now it requires that more studies be carried out to confirm or to check whether if this nutrient is higher than the acceptable limits, what are the effects? Yeah. But as it is now uh the the data that was submitted to us shows that all the nutrients are are are the same. They are no different.
>> Okay.
>> Two questions from this. Yes. You want to add something Drw?
>> Yes. Uh thank you. I wanted to add on the last part of the question by Christine.
>> She asked whether there are any plans to work on nutrition. I would like to say that usually scientists respond uh to immediate challenges that are faced by farmers. So we get feedback from uh farmers and then we do prioritization of what traits to focus on when it come to research. uh there is work being done on uh biofortified potatoes but uh you know elsewhere because there was need in those countries for instance currently in southern America in Peru we have confessionally bred um potatoes that are high in hyon and zinc and that was as a request from the stakeholders there. So research is based on uh you know what is the immediate challenge and then we prioritize based on that. So if it reaches a time where maybe there's nutrition that can be worked on but there's other technologies that can deal with that also because like we've been able to successfully uh biofortify potato with iron and zinc. Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you. Let's take two questions this side. Yes. the gentleman and the lady here, the two of you. Yes.
>> Thank you so much. My name is Erica Mazour, a student leader in university standing for the position of congressperson faculty of agriculture.
So pursuing bachelor degree in animal science, I direct my question to the researchers available. So what are the specific gene that are used in GMO potatoes grown or tested in Kenya and how the gene is introduced in the potatoes during genetic modification and can it have the effect to the animal genetically?
>> Okay. Is this for Dr. Yongesa or Kanju?
Kenji can attempt that as well. Pass the microphone to Kenju over there so that I hear what his thinking is. I'll come to you. We'll hold that. There's a microphone back there. Just pass the microphone to then we hear what your reaction is to this.
>> Yeah. Thank you very much for that question and uh that concern. So let me begin by saying that uh the solutions for all the problems that we are facing in our daily life are here with us. God give us all the solutions. is upon us to get the solutions and put and utilize them to save or to solve the challenges.
Let me start with the Shangi the one that we are talking the king Shangi here.
If you look at uh the potato remember we are talking about the climate change remember we are talking about the demand for the trade and for the others so today why Shangi 80% adopted because of it has all that the homestead requires the people who depend on the chips requires and the industry also required And also that one also goes to the nutrition level. But if you look at back those years, we must have a variety there that was also it is resistant to the disease. But it is doesn't have those parameters. Due to the climate change things also come changing. So what did the scientists do?
They go back and they look at varieties.
So the genes of resistance to redbrite it is naturally occurring in potato.
So what have the scientists have done?
It is just to go because when you come to the improvement it is not easy to cross that variety and the one that is has all the preferences but the only thing it is has the sustability as you do the crossing you end up losing the other traits and with that for you to build up those good traits and together with the good trait that is of the disease. It will take not less than 10 years.
Biotech has just come to help us get that protection from the naturally occurring and put it to these improved varieties. And that is why if it's or the maze the BT the protection is already in the soil it has been put in the chemical adding the cost of chemical buying and the spray and all those other health issues. What have the scientists done? get that natural occurring protection and just put in the the maze to overcome that disease. That is all what science they are doing and that is all what we are asking our student who are even here to focus in making sure the future >> as the climate change also and all these challenges come >> we are able to use the naturally occurring ch uh solutions >> to solve the current challenges >> thank you Dr. James Dr. James Karana the center director Kalro and you wanted to attempt on this jung as well. Is there anything else you want to add? He wanted to know the specific gene and how it is introduced.
>> Um thank you Trevor and for your question and I just emphasize what Dr. Karanger has said uh so that we are not lost into a lot of technicalities because the effort is to transfer the trait of for resistance from the um wild potato relatives to the commercially cultivated potato variety that has lost that resistance over time as the improvement was taking place. So the effort was to pinpoint those those genes um and then to isolate them and transfer them into this cultivated variety.
Uh the process itself is is complex but that is why uh I think the the capacity has been built nationally to be able to address these challenges and deliver the solutions to the farmers.
>> Okay.
>> But just to emphasize that these genes were from potato to another potato.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah. Thanks a guy for that question.
There's a conversation your Yes, you've passed your microphone there. Okay, you as the same question you had. All right, so I have just about 10 more minutes to go. So I'll take two questions from this side and two question from that side and then we take a final remarks from our guest. Yes.
>> Okay. Uh I am born a farmer from uh Nakur Koi South uh Kate Ward. My question goes to CC.
Uh in terms of uh we are anticipating this uh Shangi Kinga to cause to uh production to go up. What are the measures the county is taking in terms of packaging to avoid uh farmers exploitation? Yeah.
Thank you.
>> In terms of packaging. Yeah.
>> To avoid farmers exploitation.
>> Okay. Yes.
Um just to thank you Bonface for your question. As you are aware we have the 2019 Irish potato uh bill or regulation that was passed and uh what we are doing uh across all those counties that are doing potatoes is to make sure that we do the enforcement. Uh there was an attempt to enforce that law sometimes back I think about 3 years ago or four years ago. But there was a challenge of uh now one county enforcing and the other one not enforcing and there was a challenge with the market. So what we are doing now we've come together and I'm sure very soon we will have a common stand to make sure that we enforce across so that all the counties that are doing potatoes we make sure that we enforce the law is already there so it's just about a matter of enforcement. Thank you.
>> Okay two question for this side. Yes the lady of the front and yourself. Yes.
Thank you. My name is X Macharia from Ros County is going to when you the Shangi King are we going to spray or we just plant a re the farm?
Second question is about the package the labeling uh Mr. court say that it will be labeled GMO from the farm gate. Who is going to responsible for the labeling? When you process and you cook chips, are they going to be labeled? Who is going to be responsible? Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you Dr. >> Okay. Yeah. Thank you, Mashara, for the question on whether the the Changi Kinga will be sprayed.
Again the emphasis here is that the improvement has uh provided a trait in this shangi kinga to confer what we are calling ready to detect and defend.
So the potato will be in that permanent state of ready to detect and protect. Uh so it is actually immune to red bite and you will not need to apply any fungicides.
But as the monitoring will go on over seasons, new advisories will be provided by the uh researchers ourselves working closely together with the the uh county extension office.
Should there emerge new uh uh strains of of the disease that might require minimal usage of of the fungicides but at the point of of release this variety would be absolutely immune to late bite >> who's responsible for the labeling.
>> Yeah. Uh thank you. Uh yes uh the law requires that all approved GMOs in Kenya must be labeled that is including the Shangi Kinga. Uh now whether to be labeled at the farm gate uh the law requires or exempts farmers those small scale farmers from labeling because it is a laborious exercise and we not expect you to label one bag of shagi to be sgm but what happens is that uh we expect seed merchants those people who sell seeds those who are certified to be uh sell seed uh merchants to label them just the way they label the certified seeds. So we expect that the seeds from the merchants would be labeled and even now the uh those large uh companies that uh or processors that makes chips or or crips or all that they will be able they'll be required to label but for a common farmer no the law exempts you from labling. Okay, we're really pressed for time here, but what we do, yes, you wanted to add something. Let's pass the microphone to him before we bring in the lady who has a question.
>> Yeah, I just wanted to compliment Dr. Nyonga to to tell the >> the farmer that please note if your crop is hit by spidermitites and caterpillars.
Note that does not work for that. You still have to control them by whichever measure.
>> So, this is specifically for late.
>> Yes, this is specific to what you are not spraying for is death blight, >> okay?
>> Not any other problem. If you have any other, please control it by whichever.
>> All right. Yes, you have a question.
>> Thank you. My name is Passenger Jerry.
I'm an agricology champion and I'm also an organic farmer. My question is when you're talking of GM potatoes, are we considering uh the disappearance of our local species or our indigenous species?
And uh is there any inclusion of the indigenous communities and especially we are talking about uh farmers seed banks.
How will we protect our farmers who are protecting who are saving their own indigenous seeds or will it let uh come at a point where we will start complaining that our indigenous uh potato species have disappeared and this will contribute to loss of biodiversity and also um that question I give it to Dr. And then I have another question about the allergens. I'm asking uh Dr. Eric uh he has talked about uh checking on the toxicity or the allergens that can be in the GMO. How have they tested the allergens? Have they sampled with some humans to ensure that this will not have a long-term uh consequences on our health? Okay.
>> Thank you.
>> Thanks, Eric. Start with you. uh to start uh on the issue of allegiance.
Yes. Uh what we do is it is remember I said first our processes is scientific.
It's purely scientific. So what happens and it is uh I think I'm going to give you a more complex answer but uh what happens is that uh in their databases international databases where they have uh what do we call sequenced the allergens that are known allergens they have databases where we have the known allergens. So what happens is uh we uh data is provided to us by the scientists that they have done the also sequence of these uh uh uh proteins of these uh uh shang coup and compare them using what we call bioinformatic tools.
So once that is compared anything that has 80% similarity in terms of the sequence then that product or that protein is likely to cause an allergen.
If it is less than 80% then it is scientifically it is not an allergen. So that's how allergenicity tests or is done. So uh >> so there are no human tests.
>> There are no human tests. We don't do human tests on food. It's not like uh drugs. So we don't do human test but we compare uh with known allergens and if there's any allergen here if there are 80% similarity in terms of consequences then that product will say has an allergen.
>> Okay.
>> Yes.
>> Dr. Yongesa the disappearance of local species the inclusion of indigenous farmers and the indigenous seeds. Merci, thank you for this um question. Um first of all to correct a misconception that may might be there uh to the possible indication that they are indigenous potato land races in Kenya.
No, we don't have such potato itself is not indigenous to Kenya. It came from South America. So the potatoes we have in Kenya are improved versions of land races and wild species which are only found in in South America.
But your question about what the potential effect of these uh genetically modified varieties coexisting with the conventional bread varieties. I think that question has been answered and we said that there will be no cross pollination between this improved variety and the conventionally bread varieties.
So um that concern can be addressed that way. However, the practice of farmers, small scale farmers who exchange seed at the local level in the counties and in ws and they desire to save a little quantity of the varieties that are conventionally bred. That is a practice that goes on. So the roll out of this new variety Shangi Kinga will not interfere with what has been happening at the local level. And we we we also say and in in an answer to one of the the earlier persons who asked can a small quantity of this young kinga be retained by smallcale growers to grow on their own farm. Again the answer is yes.
So there is no risk of erosion of farmer rights to continue the practice of saving some seed at the local level for own use. Okay, we've really run out of time, but just out of respect for you, we'll give you just five more minutes.
So, we'll take one question from this side, one question from this side. I know there are too many back there.
We've not heard from anyone. We can pass the microphone to the people at the back. One question from both sides, this side and this side, and then we'll get closing remarks from our guests. Yes, sir. You wanted to add something very briefly.
>> Okay. I wanted to add something from what Yongza said concerning the biodiversity.
I think uh for the benefit of the students who are with us here, it's good to know that uh the resistant which has been put into shangi kinga comes from potato itself.
So it's just been put by through through the means of biotechnology.
So in other words, if it crosses with the normal potato varieties, we are kind of improving the biodiversity. Okay?
Because same species crop uh crossing with the same species crop.
>> Okay?
>> So there is no um threat of losing bio biodiversity >> of potato.
>> Okay. Thank you. Now that I know there are so many questions that are coming in, let's do something we call a quick fire. So we'll give you the microphone.
My panelist, please write them down so that when I come to you for your one minute closing remarks, you take that minute to respond to the questions as we finish because we've really run out of time. Yes. Let's start with you as we move really fast. Just question as we move. Yes.
>> Okay. Thank you for this opportunity. My name is Francis Ja from Bonquad. I'm a FSC. My question is to Dr. Moses. Do you have other GM potato varieties in Kenya bred commercially? Also, I'll direct my another question to Dr. Karanja.
Does the hybrid maze varieties are they genetically modified? Thank you.
>> Okay. Dr. Karan, hybrid maze, are they GM? Yes. Just write them down. We'll give you a chance to respond. Yes. Go ahead.
>> My question was about packaging and it has been >> been answered. Okay. Thank you. Next question. So that we move. Yes. Uh my question is about >> start with your name please.
>> My name is Mai Cyrus. I am a student pursuing agri business management >> and my question is about the shelf life of this shangia. We find that over 50% of the agricultural produces in Africa are actually lost due to um post-h harvest losses. So my question is how do we ensure that or I'm asking are you guys able to improve the shelf life of these shangi kinga and for for us as younger farmers are we allowed to form like cooperative societies whereby we can be producing only shankinga and then like giving it to to the government or something.
>> Okay. Thank you. Back there there's a question behind you. Yes. Go ahead.
>> Yeah. My name is Benjamin Kitana pursuing bachelor's of degrees in science of articulture. My question is, is DMO an an an organic production practice or can it be practiced practiced organically?
>> Say that again.
>> Is GMOs is GMO an organic production practice or can it be practiced organically?
students.
>> Okay.
Thank you. Yes.
>> Okay. I'm Dixon Oiri. My question is to the scientist.
uh with the new variety of Shangi is there any responsive act act that is going to be having in terms of fertilizer intake water intake and how is it going to be responsive to the climate during the times where there's high humidity >> okay thank you yes finishing on this side then we go there yeah >> uh I'm my question is uh when we speak about GMO we know that genans are involved what are what are the strategies that you people are using in order to control the genes from being transferred to wild plants. When I speak about wild plants, I speak about uh weeds or any other plants because we know that we as farmers, we also struggle in controlling weeds. So, what are the what are the strategies you people are using in controlling that?
>> Okay. All right. On this side, how's it go? Yes.
>> Thank you so much. I'm Jaleno. My question goes to the scientist in the room. Okay.
For GMO crops, they have gene flow and gene contamination and you have rejected the fact that there will be no crosspollination. So how will you control the gene flow and gene contamination?
>> Gene contamination and gene flow. Thank you. Yes, on this side.
>> Thank you for this opportunity. My name is Joseph Miner from MO. My question goes to Wazir here.
>> Where's Minina? Please stand. Okay. No, you're okay. Fine. Go ahead.
Yes, Minina.
>> Okay. Thank you for this opportunity.
My name is Minina Joseph from Malom Chu.
My question goes to Waziri.
uh most of the problem that that we go through we as farmers it's about prices price fluctuation because you can find that you can use a lot of money when taking care of the the crop but when it comes to market you find the prices are really low is it possible that the government can set a a minimum price in the market >> okay all right thank you >> thanks Maya minimum pricing back there pass the microphone. Yes, >> madame a student here at university pursuing a BC agree business management.
I want to direct my question to the scientist uh on this particular variety of potatoes. Is there certain environmental conditions or can it grow in any type of soil and temperatures?
And another one, what are what do you take part in any other activity beyond let's say getting a a farmer feedback and what benefits do you offer beyond the approved and certified seeds? Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you. As we wind up Yes sir.
And then finally back there. Yes.
>> Okay. Thank you so much. Hi, I'm David Brien from Southwani Amalo. My question is to the researchers.
Okay, I've heard of you've done research on maybe late pride plate resistance.
Now in chro out we have a problem which is a monster cohole bacterial w was it faced in when the research was being done.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you back there. Yes sir.
So note Shangi.
Okay, finally back there.
Yes, final question.
>> My name is Terat. I come from a so uh first of all I want to thank our sandist for what they have done for we farmers we have been losing a lot of our produce through the uh plight attack but since you have come up with a new variety so uh my quer is h my worry is that uh you see uh usually we normally sell our produce to maybe our neighboring countries like Tanzania.
The normal shiangi we used to transport it exported to our neighbors like Tanzania and Uganda. So is there any measures that you have taken as the government to ensure that once the GMO has been embraced because we know the production will go up and we shall have surplus. Is there any way you can ensure that our neighbors will have a position to buy our chair's product because we don't want to impress the chair then we miss the market outside there. Thank you.
>> Thank you sir and I think Karan will start with you as we wind up on this conversation. There was a question about hybrid maze whether it's also GMO maze or BT maze. Let's pass the microphone to him as it comes down there microphone Dr. Karanja as we still do that Eric let's start with you then we'll get the microphone to Karanja you can answer any of the questions that are there as we move >> uh I think most of the questions were directed to scientist so uh maybe mine is just to emphasize that uh this GM potato the Shangi coup once it is approved and is availed to the farmers uh it shows that it has passed through the regulatory processes and it is safe and we encourage farmers that they can adopt it and use it uh uh accordingly. So our mine is just to assure the public that as the national biosafety authority safety is paramount to us and what we are saying is NBS or biosafety processes are not just a rubber stamp but uh they are legally they are legal processes they are scientific processes and they are multi- agency processes that has been designed to protect people that has been designed to protect protect our environment and also our animals. So uh and the uh once we get the the the applications at MBA it under goes review assessment review and it is done internally it is done by our experts. We also consult regular h other regulatory agencies and at the same time we consult or we engage the public. So once a product is approved it is safe. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Now the microphone. Yes.
>> Yeah. Thank you.
BTO Maybe GMO hire Mambbo.
How do fear in Kenya Bank.
Thank you. And you want to add something?
>> Let me let me respond on is it it's GMO organic?
>> Yes.
>> It been grown organically? Yeah. So this shangi kinga is an improvement of the normal shangi. Normal shangi is organic.
Uh shangi kinga we have just added resistance from another sweet another potato line or variety. So it's still organic.
>> Okay.
>> Can it being grown organically? Yes.
Because once you grow it, you just avoid putting in organic inputs.
>> Okay.
>> And then it won't be organic organically produced. Maybe the other thing I can respond.
>> Yeah.
>> About interference with gene flow.
>> Yeah.
>> Uh we have just said that Shangi Kinga is an improvement of Shangi the normal Shangi and the resistance from potato itself. So if it crosses with other normal varieties of potato there is no harm because the same set of chromosomes that are flowing across.
>> Okay.
>> So they really there's no harm.
And what about contamination?
Well, uh I think here here is relative because if you are producing certified seed, you have to maintain a distance from a normal crop to the seed crop to avoid contamination. And actually when we come to potato, that is not really a big concern. The concern is diseases and pests coming to the seed potato >> because the seed potato is the tubers themselves.
But if we are an ecologist and we are uh worried about uh the biodiversity then there's no harm because it's just potato >> uh pollen going to another potato pollen.
>> Okay.
>> So in other word we just enriching the biodiversity we have.
>> Thank you. That was a question from Angelina and Benjamin that has already been answered. Let me hear from Sarah.
The final conversation to the farmers who are listening to you today. What would you like to tell them >> in one minute? Then I'll come to and give you guest at the bulk of the conversation.
>> I would like to tell the scientific and other thank you for introducing us for this changi kinga because we are going to use it when you bring them to the market. We appreciate because it is a new variety and we are ready for it.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Was I think there were two questions for you from Mina was asking about the price fluctuation and whether you can set a minimum price and there was another one from Terrer. How do you ensure that the neighbors can buy this GMO produce from us and then as you give your closing remarks as well.
>> Okay. Thank you. Maybe there's also another question from Cyrus that is if they can be allowed to form cooperatives. I think that is a mandate of the county and what we are doing as a as a department or as a county is to make sure that we organize our farmers around those organized groups. Uh to Mina Joseph. Yes. uh still on the the the law the 2019 Irish potato really really spells on those steps that can be taken to make sure that we have the minimum guaranteed price but meanwhile what we are doing uh owing to the subsidies around the inputs the fertilizer and of course now with the discussion in the room the issue of improved varieties so now we can lower our cost by making sure that we have those varieties that are resistant uh and also of Of course the packaging aspect which is also in the law it will make sure that we couple those make sure that the farmer is really benefiting from the enterprise. Um I want to say that uh uh thank you uh for the I see the youth are really in need and uh we have a future in our food systems for this country. uh we have a lot of opportunities especially in potato value chain. Uh keep it up as a county to work together partnering with all these stakeholders to make sure that uh we have a vibrant uh pot value chain in our county. Thank you.
>> Thank you. And finally guess as you wind up on this there was a question from Maraga. There's another one from Biren.
They say their issue is more bacterial wags you speak.
Fore!
Foreign! Foreign!
potato.
before potato.
Uh but Trevor just by way of concluding because as I have looked through apart from these last two questions that we have addressed all the others have been handled in one way or another. My assessment is that the Shangi Kinga is a good demonstration of what um the deployment of science uh technology and innovation uh can be leveraged to address farming concerns in the country. And as we do that, we know that uh this has been the responsibility of the agricultural research community in this country. um and ourselves especially as Caro. uh we want to assure the uh public and those who are listening that we now have locally grown capability and capacity to generate local solutions to our problems uh ranging from uh maze we have talked about cavi now potato to give the assurance to the farmers that the solutions that we are giving we have their safety and uh and concerns properly addressed.
Uh so once I again thank you for giving us this platform >> to address the farming concerns of the potato farmers.
>> Thank you so much Sarah. You wanted something to add that they want you also want more training for this because they have not learned about it when >> so they need a lot of training.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> All right. I want to thank you all for making time. Asanti San Leonard B the county executive committee members CCM for agriculture livestock and fisheries nakuru county Dr. Moses Nongessesa chief research scientist and plant pathologist Kenya agricultural livestock and research organization that's calo Eric Ker principal biosafety officer national biosafety authority saran duta kenyan ji farmer from here in Akuru county Dr. Susanino potato breed and center director at kalro Dr. Dr. Samson Gamuna, center director, biotechnology research center at Kalro Cabetete. Drwamiro, seed system specialist, international potato center. Abed Madangu, biosafety specialist and plant pathologist, African agriculture technology and foundation that is AATF. Dr. Benjamin Kuva, director, crop system, Calro and Dr. James Karan, center director Kalo Joro and Lilian Samoa, technical officer, CCM's office in the county crops office and Akur and most specifically to the students and the farmers here. Thank you so much to speaking for speaking to us on this conversation of farmers forum talking about potatoes. You've been an amazing audience and on behalf of everyone who's made this possible special thanks to Eaton University for hosting us in Nakuru County. We say good night and God bless. Thank you so much. You've been an amazing audience club for yourselves.
Next we might come to a county near you.
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