For many years Elda Mariam, a maize farmer from Nambale sub-county, Busia County has been harvesting a maximum of Seven bags in her one-acre parcel. This could however change with the introduction of Bt Maize variety in that locality.
“Maize farming has been a big loss to me. I incur a lot of expenses including the use of chemical sprays and fertilizer, but the yield has not been good,” says disheartened Mariam.
Mariam, however, confides that with the information she has received during Bt Maize’s sensitization meeting at Alupe in Busia, she hopes for better yields.
She told Africa Science News that with the introduction of Bt Maize technology, farmers in Busia county and western Kenya have a reason to smile for the beckoning fortunes after scientists/researchers availed the new variety in the region.
Taxpayers are working to prepare for a higher compliance burden next year
Tax policymakers have been busy this week setting their plans for the year ahead. At more local and regional levels, governments have released new tax laws and guidance. While the OECD has been occupied with the FTA’s plenary meeting and its 2021 agenda, taxpayers are working to prepare for a higher compliance burden next year.
ICAP becomes permanent
The FTA has agreed to make the international compliance assurance programme (ICAP) permanent, allowing multinational enterprises to reduce their TP audit risks.
The scheme has been running as a pilot programme since 2017. It allows taxpayers to gain tax certainty from the countries involved by explaining their business model and tax arrangements once to multiple tax authorities and gaining outcome letters that reassures them of being tax compliant. It has, in some cases, prevented unnecessary audits or led to more cooperative joint audits.