Uganda GMO maize trials shows promising results

Results from the ongoing confined trials in Uganda on genetically modified maize that is resistant to the stem-borer are having promising results with the transgenic lines planted early this year showing complete resistance to the pest.

Ugandan scientists introduced Bacillus Thuringiensis, a naturally occurring soil bacterium that protects crops against pests, to maize stock obtained from South Africa to create resistance to the devastating stalk-borers (Chilo partellus and Busseola fusca). The trials are part of a three-year research project under the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project that started in 2008.

WEMA is a sub-regional, public-private partnership project between the Nairobi-based African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and national agro-research systems of five sub-Saharan African countries — Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa.

Michael Otim, the principal project investigator at the National Crop Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, told The EastAfrican that all the eight lines of GM maize planted in the confined field trial at the foothill of Mt Rwenzori, western Uganda, have proved resistant to the pest compared with the 12 lines of non-GM maize.

Dr Otim said the next phase will involve a second trial at Namulonge in central Uganda.

Stalk-borers are a class of pest made up of a number of moth species that lay their eggs at night on the underside of emerging leaves of young maize plants.

The larvae, or caterpillars, that hatch from the eggs, quickly make their way inside the plant, where they feed on the crop undisturbed.

Scientists say stalk-borers in Uganda are currently rampant in Kasese, western Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania; causing at least 20 per cent crop loss for farmers every year.

Scientists say if the research on the GM maize proves successful in the subsequent trials, the crop could be commercialised in the country by 2017 subject to the enactment of the biotechnology law.

Commercial release

The National Biosafety Bill, which intends to introduce biotechnology seeds and allow commercial release of GM products from ongoing research into the market, is currently before parliament for approval.

Uganda’s trials on BT maize are being carried out in tandem with those for transgenic drought-resistant (DT) maize as well as stalk-borer resistance using conventional methods.

Kenya is also carrying out confined fields trials on the GM maize resistant to the pest at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.

Research on GM maize in Uganda comes at a time when some countries including South Africa are battling with the pest even after resorting to GM maize that is supposed to be resistant to it.

Last year, stalk-borer was discovered feeding on GM maize in South Africa even after farmers applied the refugee land strategy in managing the new generation of hard-to-kill pests.