Farmers have been warned against the use of pesticides that are not approved by the Pest and Control Products Board (PCPB) for specific crops.
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector are now calling for cooperation from farmers regarding the amount of pesticides they apply to consumable products. A new study on pesticide residue in local markets conducted in eight counties shows over 90% compliance.
The influx of pests and diseases in the country has increased the demand for pesticides in the agricultural sector. According to the Pest Control Products Board, improper application of agrochemicals can lead to the accumulation of harmful residues in food crops, posing serious risks to human health and the environment. “Any exposure that exceeds what can be classified as an acceptable level means that the product cannot be registered for use in the country,” the Board CEO Fredrick Muchiri said during the launch of the Baseline Study report on Friday. “So what remains now is for the farmer to extract that information, which is in English and Kiswahili. The farmer only needs to use that product according to the instructions on the label.”
“The molecules detected during this study are registered by PCPB, apart from a few that were not registered for use on the crop,” said PCPB Assistant Manager Grace Muchemi.
The Ministry of Agriculture has also called on all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, to ensure proper food handling and transportation to minimize health risks.
“There are complexities associated with the transport of food. Therefore, this responsibility shifts from the producer to the transporter, including those who are selling produce,” stated AAK Grow CEO Eric Kimugunyi.
Collins Marangu from the Ministry of Agriculture, added: “We could have food that is very safe on the farm, but the way it is handled from the farm to the consumer can lead to contamination…”
PCPB Defends Pesticide Approvals
The government through the ministry of Agriculture’s Pest Control Products Board is on the defensive mode after being accused of allowing harmful pesticides in the market.
Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) chief executive Fredrick Muchiri defended the approval process of products before use in the Kenyan market, terming the allegations misleading and intended to create fear among the Kenyan consumers. He said the board is guided by Parliament Act to ensure products getting into the Kenyan market are safe for use.
This comes after the deputy speaker also representing agriculture rich Uasin Gishu county as Women Representative claimed that Pesticides Atlas, a document developed by 20 Nairobi University scientists has confirmed that over 200 pesticide products that have been banned in Europe and America are in use in Kenya.
“We took it seriously in 2019 when health issues were raised in the USA over the Glyphosate, there was no reason to withdraw pesticides made from glyphosate from our market because no evidence linking it to cancer,” he said adding that the Board scientists re-evaluated glyphosate last year and found no data linking it to cancer.