A maize farm. The adoption of the crops is subject to Parliamentary approval. [Photo/ rebanas.com]
A Genetically Modified Organisms expert has said Kenya may plant-test GMO crops in June 2019.Joel Ochieng' said on Monday that the test is, however, subject to approval by Parliament.The crops expert said with the approval of the crops, mainly maize and beans, hunger will directly be confronted as the country will be able to produce enough to feed the over 45 million Kenyans."It's important to note that one of the problems the country is currently grappling with is high food prices," said Ochieng' during a press briefing at a Nairobi hotel."Imported maize flour has been retailing at Sh90 for the last few months but, with increased crop production we foresee floor prices falling further," he added.He said if the country adopted the production and consumption of the GMO products, maize floor may drop as low as Sh60 for a two-kilogram packet.In March 2017, the Agriculture Ministry said it will take longer before Kenya conducts open trials on genetically modified crops after the government said the country was not ready for such an undertaking.Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett said Kenya was yet to put in place mechanism that would ensure the genetically modified seed is not cross-pollinated, contaminating local varieties during the field tests.