The government has announced a nationwide ban on more than 50 harmful pesticide brands as part of a broader plan to promote safer, sustainable farming practices.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe revealed the move during an official function in Molo, Nakuru County.
Kagwe said the banned products, many of which are already prohibited in their countries of origin, pose serious risks to human health and the environment. He added that the crackdown would go hand in hand with efforts to boost the use of safer, locally-produced alternatives.
“The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) has brought me a list of chemical products that we have been importing from other countries to control pests, and they have informed me that there are about 50 such products. We are going to stop importing these over 50 products, as they will now be produced here in Kenya. So your market will not necessarily be abroad. Your market will be right here in Kenya,” Hon. Kagwe said.
A key part of this shift is a renewed focus on pyrethrum farming. The Cabinet Secretary outlined an ambitious plan to increase the crop’s acreage from the current 10,000 acres to over 70,000 acres countrywide.
“Earlier on, we were planting 70,000 acres of pyrethrum. Today, we are planting 10,000. We want to go up again, where we were, and be number one in the world,” he stated.
The government sees the revival of pyrethrum farming not only as a safer alternative for pest control but also as a way to create thousands of job opportunities for Kenyans. Kagwe made the remarks during the launch of a nationwide distribution of one million clean pyrethrum planting materials, a crucial step in restoring the crop’s former glory.
He noted that the ministry is partnering with county governments to improve agricultural extension services, aiming to equip farmers with essential knowledge and tools for sustainable farming.
“My ministry will collaborate with county governments to strengthen agricultural extension services and provide better support to farmers,” he said.
Kagwe added that the ministry is also preparing a new team of agripreneurs who will visit farms to offer growers advice on soil health, crop management, efficient input use, and techniques for adding value to their produce.
The event was attended by prominent national and regional leaders, including Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, and Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha, all of whom voiced their support for the initiative.