Kenyan farmers selling indigenous seeds face 2 years imprisonment!
Samuel Wathome, enjoying the fruits of his labour.
Greenpeace Africa, an independent environmental campaigning organization, has embarked on a petition to have a 2012 law amended that currently stops smallholder farmers in Kenya from from sharing, exchanging or selling unregistered and uncertified seeds.
Smallholder farmers with the support of Greenpeace Africa have filed a case over the 2012 punitive seed law . The public interest litigation filed at the Machakos law courts by 15 farmers representing many other smallholder farmers across the country is demanding an amendment of these punitive seed laws.
(greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/52305/farmers-file-a-court-case-to-stop-punitive-seed-laws)
The outrageous law will see farmers face a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine of up to Sh. 1,000,000 if found in breach.
Greenpeace Africa now seeks Kenyans to sign a petition demanding the protection of farmer’s rights especially those who practice the age–old tradition.
“Kenya’s government should amend these seed laws now and allow the sale, exchange and sharing of indigenous seeds and integrates local farmer seed management into law”.
Greenpeace seeks the government to protect Kenya’s farmers from big corporations.
“This law serves to enrich multinational seed companies fueling the industrialisation of agriculture. Kenya’s farmers will be knocked out of a self-sufficient system and be locked in a debt cycle by depending on seed companies for seed supply”
Greenpeace Africa, uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose environmental injustices globally and to bring forth the solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future.
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