With maze being the most important crop in Kenya, a student at Kenyatta University; Rasha Adam has engaged in research into helping this crop grow during drought seasons.

she is working to produce seeds named PNOV-ASARAnxzm35. Plants with this specific gene have actually proven to show more resistance to lack of water and are capable of returning to fully healthy plants after completely drying up, the plant can wither but remain alive for up to 72 hours. Then after a water source is introduced within these 72 hours the plant will spring back to life.

At the first ASARECA (Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa) General Assembly last week, Adam stated “I will carry out field experiments back home in Sudan and train more scientists. The gene will be free for all farmers in the ASARECA region,”

Adam has also helped develop nine gene lines, which have been engineered with drought resistant genes which once successfully inserted into the maze seeds will make it capable of withstanding drought and increase its production in the region by up to 70 percent.

Scientists at ASARECA say Once these crops are introduced to local farmers it will increase security, reduce hunger and promote economic development.