Are women safe from genetic modification as proposed in the National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill 2012 ?

Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) convened yet another meeting for the Uganda Women’s Think Tank on Friday, 13th December 2013 at Metropole Hotel, Kampala. The Think Tank was formed by FOWODE in November 2013 to deliberate on broad national political social and economic issues as guided by the Equal by Right -Uganda Women’s Agenda.. The goal of the Think Tank is to provide thought leadership on critical women’s issues thus contributing to increased accountability towards women centered economic and political processes in Uganda.

The think Tank is premised on the background that that many a times there is a near or total absence of women’s voices on critical policy discussions in the development and governance arenas and yet the outcomes of these discussions have great effects on women. This can partly be attributed to the lack of an independent resourced group or unit that can be consulted by policy makers on women’s rights and gender perspectives that can inform policies and legislations that are being developed. Fundamental to effective change is our awareness that we must work together if we are to make a difference in the social economic and political arena. It is in this regards that FOWODE felt the need to bring together women to critically think and provide policy alternatives for policy and decision makers thus the formation of the Think Tank.
 

The 2nd Think Tank meeting was convened as a build up from the 1st meeting to fortify the capacity of the Think Tank to enhance sharing of information and knowledge on Genetically Modified Organisms as contained in the National Biotechnology Biosafety Bill 2012.The theme for discussion was the effects of Genetically Modified organism as contained in the Biotechnology Biosafety Bill 2013 on Women Farmers in Uganda. The voices were intended to inform the consultations on this bill that are going on.

The 2nd Uganda Women’s Think Tank meeting brought together women and men from different fields including; Health, Education, Youth, Gender Activists, Women Activists Media, Politics (Members of Parliament), Human rights and the law as well as agriculture. FOWODE also invited some of the women farmers it works with fro the districts of Amuru and Amuria to share their practical knowledge of farming with the group and offer guidance on the farming realities relating to the Bill. . The meeting was highly participatory and enabled several women to share their views on the subject matter majorly highlighting their limited knowledge and information on this issue. These views will be synthesized into a women’s position on Genetically Modified Agricultural products to feed into the discussions on the National Biotechnology and Bio-safety Bill 2012.

Dr. Kiggundu Andrew, Head Biotechnology Centre, National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) presented a scientist’s perspective on the topic: Biotechnology and Bio safety: the case GMOs and Women farmers in Uganda which provided an overview and key areas of why we should embrace the technology such as ability to address issues of pests and plant diseases that are affecting agricultural production. He also argued that a number of scientific test have been conducted and have revealed the need to use the technology as other countries have also adopted this technology. He highlighted how we will have much yield to help address issues of adequate production and good quality produce to meet the agricultural market needs He emphasised that Ugandans need to know that the environmental release of Genetically Modified (GM) products and innovations are imminent in Uganda and that we need a new legislation to implement the 2008 National Biotechnology and Bio safety Policy. He emphasized that Ugandans need to comply with their obligation under the CBD (1992) & Cartagena Protocol on Bio safety (2000) to which Uganda is a state party and to prepare beyond the law.

Mr. Fredrick Kawooya, an agricultural researcher and practitioner also presented a paper on: The effects of Bio technology on Women: The case of GMOs in Uganda where he stated that Ugandans need a law on Bio safety and Biotechnology but not in its current state which is more burdensome to the women of Uganda who are the custodians of farming. As a first point he argued that GMO technology will allow scientists to tinker with nature using organisms from various living things provided they address scientific challenges. He emphasized that women are in agriculture not for commercial purposes but for food medicine and it’s a culture that with GMO technology that is geared at commercial agriculture production women will be at a loss. He also mentioned that technology advanced maybe more labour intensive for women given the limited capacities they possess. He argued that the law will not address women specific agriculture challenges of access to productive resources such as land, farmer extension services, and inputs , agricultural credit it may actually may make it worse for women in agriculture. It was also clarified mixing of organisms by scientists may end into affecting the taste of certain food crops and you may end up with a product without knowing what it actually is for instance you may think you have a banana because its yellow but the taste and aroma are different and that’s just at surface value but the content is not of a natural banana content.
Through the deliberations in the 2nd Women’s Think Tank meeting women raised their concerns on this Bill. Many argued that while the bill is necessary to protect Ugandan farmers from the wave of Genetic Modification it should not be enacted without women properly understanding its effects on the farming practices and lives as well thus it should not be passed in its current form.
The need to create public awareness on the Bill itself but also the GMO technology given its scientific nature was also highlighted before the bill is enacted.