GMOs will help fix animal feeds issue, says lobby

The cost of animal feeds has been rising forcing many to scale down or close businesses. [Antony Gitonga, Standard]

Livestock farmers are appealing to the government to allow the importation of genetically modified (GMO) raw materials for animal feeds. According to Martin Kinoti, the Secretary General at the Association of Kenya Animal Feed Manufacturers (AKEFEMA), Kenya relies on imports of raw materials for feed such as maize, soya, sunflower and cottonseed cake from neighbouring countries like Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi. When these countries face production challenges, Kenya experiences severe shortages. So far, at least 36 feed millers have closed shop within the last one year owing to scarcity of raw materials.