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"speaker_name": "Mr. Syongo",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for recognising that I enjoy some difference. I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to make a few remarks on this Bill. First of all, we are bringing this Bill very late! You will remember that it was one of the very first Papers that we discussed when the Ninth Parliament was inaugurated. We spent endless moments both at the Committee Stage as well as at a retreat in Mombasa, which was sponsored by others, to discuss this Bill. Given the urgency of adopting biotechnology, I just want to express disappointment that it has taken us five years to bring this Bill before the House. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, recently, although Parliament was not part of the arrangement, the Executive arm of the Government launched what they called Vision 2030. That vision cannot be achieved unless we incorporate in our systems - that is education systems and research centres - the essence of biotechnology. Why do I say so? I say so because we are now living in a global world and we have to compete. Yesterday, the Minister for Trade and Industry talked about preparing to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). That agreement essentially means that we must reciprocate in terms of giving each other market access. Without biotechnology being part and parcel of our production system in agriculture and agro-based business, we are not going to compete with the EU. Biotechnology gives those countries that use it considerable leeway and even more so, a head-start because they are able to produce much more per acre with much less input cost. So, they can compete very effectively. If the EU is going to be allowed market access into this region, our agro-business is going to collapse! So, I want to tell the Minister that, although it is late, at least, it has come! Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, even as we discuss this particular Bill, the rest of the world has moved on. South Africa has completely embraced biotechnology. Even a small country like Burkina-Faso is now competing in the world market. It is one of the major producers under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) arrangement of textile products. It is using BT Cotton. That is biotechnology designed or genetically modified cotton varieties, which give you more yield per acre than our basic organic cotton. It is necessary that we move on. Under the African Union (AU), it was agreed by the Council of Ministers and endorsed by Heads of States that Kenya should be the centre of biotechnology research for Eastern Africa region, South Africa for Southern Africa region, Egypt for Northern Africa region and Nigeria for Western region. The other three centres have already moved on and are way ahead of us. Therefore, to that extent, as a country, we have also let down the entire region because we are not moving at the same speed as we were expected to do as envisaged by the African Union (AU) Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, if you look at our country, in terms of its geography 4318 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES October 3, 2007 and climatic conditions, a large part of our country cannot produce most of our food crops. These are now what are called the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). Through biotechnology, these sections of our country can actually be made to produce. Through research, we can develop suitable crop varieties which can survive the drought and the heat. Even within the high production areas, we can actually achieve a higher yield per acre so that if you are talking about food security for our people in the light of increasing population growth and obvious demand elsewhere, which gives us an opportunity to export, then we must really embrace biotechnology. For that reason, I, again, want to thank the Minister for bringing this Bill on board. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, my colleague, hon. Odoyo, has talked about biotechnology from the perspective of medicine and scientific research on medicine. He is right! However, I would like us to consider, particularly, the economic aspect of biotechnology. As I said, we cannot compete in the global market unless our products are cheaper and tastier. If you go to our supermarkets now, you will see all oranges and bananas looking alike. This is because these products are actually being genetically modified to make them more attractive in line with the market demand or consumer preferences. So, in fact, biotechnology is a major marketing tool. We should not be afraid of technology. In any case, even if you are afraid of technology and listening to a lot of noise being made by the civil society, we are not cushioned from biotechnology and Genetically Modified (GM) foods. I want to emphasise that every single item that is being imported from America and Europe is actually a product of genetic engineering. We must, therefore, move full throttle and embrace this technology. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I like this Bill because even as it talks about embracing technology and adopting biotechnology, it is also taking care of safeguard measures. It is necessary for us to deal with safety measures because even though it has benefits, biotechnology can also have dangerous side effects. If you look at the safeguard measures which are proposed in the Bill in detail, they are part and parcel of a global system of safeguard measures. So, I thank the Minister for doing so, but also urge him to consult a little more because things change all the time. Thank God for ICT! He should be able to get his officers to update this Bill, especially in terms of safeguard measures so that we are not caught unawares given the potential dangers of genetic engineering. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I would like to conclude by saying that I support this Bill. I want to encourage the Minister to move quickly so that we can go to the Committee Stage and have this Bill enacted into law before we break for the 2007 General Election."
}