Biotechnology, the new kid in the agricultural block

TANZANIA: AGRICULTURE has for long been the backbone of many developing countries’ economies.

In Tanzania, agriculture contributes about 29.1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 65.5 percent of employment (ASDP II Report, 2017), with a significant proportion of the workforce being women.

Additionally, agriculture comprises a greater part of women’s economic activity than men’s, with 81 percent of women, compared to 73 percent of men, engaged in agricultural activity, where in rural areas the number rises to 98 percent for women.

Moreover, there are over 15 million smallholder farmers in the country, more than half of whom are women (Nyomora et al., 2012).

Women play an essential role in agricultural production (Leavens and Anderson, 2011). However, women in the agricultural sector have traditionally faced numerous challenges, including low productivity due to minimal capital investment.

Most cultivate between one and three hectares with limited access to modern machinery, inputs and improved technologies.

Additionally, women often have lower access to land, training, markets and quality seeds.

Furthermore, many women work in low-skilled positions on large farms, performing hazardous and physically demanding tasks such as agro-chemical spraying, weeding and irrigation, where others work with their children on their backs.

Modern biotechnology, however, is bringing a revolution that promises to transform the lives of these women, offering solutions to some of the most persistent challenges they face.

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The Biotechnology Engineer, Lecturer and Researcher, University of Dar es Salaam, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Dr Ally Mahadhy says there are two challenges faced by women in agriculture, which is Hazardous and Tedious Work, and low productivity and limited capital investment.

Dr Mahadhy says women in agriculture are often relegated to low-skilled, labor-intensive jobs.

They are extensively involved in hazardous activities, such as spraying agrochemicals, which exposes them to harmful substances that can have long-term health impacts.

Moreover, tasks like weeding and irrigation are physically demanding and time-consuming, leaving women with little time for other activities, including education and childcare.

Concerning the issue of capital, Dr Mahadhy says lack of investment leads to lower yields and reduced incomes, perpetuating a cycle of poverty.

Additionally, women often do not own the land they work on, which further limits their ability to invest in and improve their agricultural practices. In many developing countries, women farmers have restricted access to credit, agricultural inputs and technology.

A farmer from Moshi, Ms Restituta John says this heavy workload not only affects her health but also limits their opportunities for personal and economic advancement.

She says one of the primary challenges women face in agriculture is low productivity, stemming from limited access to capital and resources.

“We, especially rural women are the ones who deal with farming most of the time, sometimes even at night, we fail to grow because we do not have enough capital.

There are some barriers, let’s say even if you have capital the prices of inputs are high. The capital itself we borrow from the Village Community Bank (Vicoba) or individuals where the returns are required every month,” she says.

Ms John urges the government to look into how they will be able to help them in the villages to bring new biotechnologies that will enable them to cultivate and get more harvests.

“If biotechnology reaches the village, our children can study in good schools, including changing our lifestyle because the income will increase and also we can expand the area of cultivation so that the economy of the country will also grow,” Ms John emphasizes, adding that by reducing the time and effort required for these activities, women can redirect their energy to other productive endeavors, including education and entrepreneurial activities.

Ms John outlines that empowering women in agriculture through biotechnology not only enhances their livelihoods but also contributes to the broader goal of sustainable development and food security in developing countries.

The Promise of Modern Biotechnology

Dr Mahadhy says modern biotechnology offers innovative solutions to address these challenges, providing tools that can increase productivity, improve safety, and reduce the drudgery associated with traditional agricultural practices.

He insists that biotechnology has led to the development of genetically modified (GM) crops that are resistant to pests, diseases and environmental stresses such as drought.

“These crops can significantly increase yields and reduce the need for chemical inputs, thus lowering production costs and improving the safety of agricultural work.

For women farmers, this means higher productivity and income, as well as reduced exposure to harmful chemicals,” Dr Madhaly says.

He says for example, Bt cotton and Bt maize are genetically modified to produce a toxin derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which is harmful to specific insect pests but safe for humans and other non-target organisms.

“These crops have drastically reduced the need for chemical pesticides, making the farming process safer and more sustainable,” says Dr Mahadhly.

In India, the adoption of Bt cotton has led to significant increase in yield and income for farmers, including many women while also reducing pesticide use by up to 50 percent.

Dr Mahadhy also says biotechnology is used as laboursaving technologies. Biotechnology also encompasses the development of labor-saving agricultural technologies.

These innovations can help automate and simplify tasks such as planting, weeding and harvesting.

Herbicide-tolerant (Ht) crops, such as Ht maize and canola, have been engineered to withstand specific herbicides, allowing farmers to control weeds without damaging the crops.

This significantly reduces the labour and time women spend on eradication which is one of the stiffest and timeconsuming tasks in agriculture.

In South Africa, the adoption of Ht maize has resulted in a substantial decrease in the amount of time and labour required for weed control, benefiting many women farmers.

Water-efficient crops, such as those developed under the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project, are another example of biotechnology’s potential.

These crops are bred to use water more efficiently, ensuring stable yields even in times of drought.

This is particularly important for women farmers in arid and semi-arid regions, where water scarcity is a major challenge.

By reducing the dependency on water and increasing resilience to climate change, these crops can help secure food production and improve the livelihoods of women in agriculture. Dr Mahadhy says if they can access Biotechnology Education and Training it will change their lives.

Access to education and training in biotechnology can empower women with the knowledge and skills needed to adopt and utilize the innovations effectively.

“Programmes that provide women with training in biotech applications can help bridge the gender gap in agricultural knowledge and practice ensuring that women are not left behind in the technological revolution,” insists the Biotechnology Engineer.

The lecturer also says Biofortification can also be used to increase nutritional value. Biofortification is the process of increasing the nutritional value of crops through biotechnology.

This can lead to improved health outcomes for women and their families, who often rely on the food they produce for their daily sustenance. Healthier women are better able to work efficiently and participate in community and economic activities.

A notable example is the development of Golden Rice, a biofortified crop engineered to produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A.

“This crop addresses the nutritional deficiencies common in many developing regions thereby improving the health and productivity of women farmers and their families,” Dr Mahadhly emphasizes.

The Biotechnology Engineer insists that the integration of modern biotechnology in the agricultural sector holds immense potential for transforming the lives of women in developing countries.

By addressing key challenges such as low productivity, hazardous working conditions and the physical demands of traditional farming, biotechnology can pave the way for a more equitable and prosperous future for women farmers.

As these innovations continue to evolve, it is crucial to ensure that women have access to the necessary resources, education and support to fully benefit from the biotechnological revolution.