•The National Seed and food harvest fair kicks of October 12 at the National Museums of Kenya and will continue until October 14 as a precursor to the world food day celebration on October 16.
Food security experts have urged the government to put in place the necessary policies to promote indigenous seeds and food.
Speaking at a Nairobi Hotel on Tuesday, the experts said the indigenous seed and food will assure the country's food and nutrition security.
Such seed and food, they said, will help build resilience, and maintain a common heritage that connects the past, present and future generations.
“Indigenous seeds are seeds that have been grown, selected and managed by local communities through several generations. They are naturally adapted through an influence from local environmental factors in their growing environment,” African Biodiversity Network’s Dr Fassil Gebeyehu said.
Gebeyehu said the seeds and food present great value in adapting to changing weather patterns, varied soil types, temperature, pressure, clouds, winds, humidity and rainfall.
He said the seeds and food are resilient to threats arising from pests, diseases, and human intervention.
“These seeds possess a high level of intra-species diversity. They are heterogeneous and polymorphic,” he said.
The discussion comes a few days after the state lifted a 10-year ban on GMOs.
President William Ruto lifted the ban on genetically modified crops that were imposed in 2012.
Ruto said the ban has been lifted in accordance with the recommendation of the Task Force formed to Review Matters Relating to Genetically Modified Foods and Food Safety.
The ban was imposed on 8th November 2012 through a Cabinet memo by the then health CS Beth Mugo.
It prohibited the open cultivation of genetically modified crops and the importation of food crops and animal feeds.
Pelum Kenya Country Coordinator Rosinah Mbenya said the smallholder farmers have played an impeccable role in seed breeding and development of better seed varieties every season through seed selection using their seed cultures, traditional knowledge in seed, food production and variety maintenance.
During the event, the experts launched the first national indigenous seed and food culture harvest fair, disclosure of the fervent need to recognize that food production is an economic and socioecological function that links people with nature.
National Coordinator of the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya Anne Maina said the promotion and support of indigenous seed and food assure sustainability of not only the country’s food sufficiency but also an integral life support system that provides a life and food secure future.
The National Seed and food harvest fair kicks of October 12 at the National Museums of Kenya and will continue until October 14 as a precursor to the world food day celebration on October 16.
Maina said the national indigenous seed and food culture harvest fair will showcase rich and diverse seed and food culture, a measure of Kenya’s bountiful inheritance of genetic resources.
She said the resource is a treasure trove of the country’s indigenous seeds and food system.
The experts now want the local food production systems tradition revitalized at the household level and the development of laws to promote and support farmer-managed seed systems.
They further said that landscapes and ecosystems must be conserved to promote the indigenous plants and livestock varieties through the indiscriminate release of Genetically Modified Organisms.
The experts said agro biodiversity and agroecology practices must be promoted to enhance livelihoods through food and nutrition security.
Patrick Maundu from the National Museum of Kenya said there were 16 varieties of sorghum in Turkana but only one remains.
“We are being narrow-minded pushing for yield,” Maundu said.