October 23, 2025
Kenya’s floriculture industry, a vital economic sector earning approximately USD 835 million annually from exports, faces a formidable challenge from the False Codling Moth (FCM), a destructive pest endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. The FCM poses a significant risk to Kenya’s lucrative cut flower exports, particularly roses, due to its classification as a regulated phytosanitary pest by the European Union (EU). Due to the EU’s zero-tolerance policy on phytosanitary pests, even minimal infestations can lead to costly shipment rejections or import bans, threatening the industry’s viability and thousands of livelihoods.
The System Approach Overview
To counter this threat, Kenya, led by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), developed and implemented the Rose False Codling Moth System Approach (Rose FCMSA), aligning with EU regulatory requirements. This “system approach” is a comprehensive, multi-layered pest risk management strategy designed to prevent, detect, and control FCM at every stage of flower production and export.
Key Components and Measures of the System Approach
- Monitoring and Surveillance: Regular and systematic field scouting for FCM presence using pheromone traps and expert inspections ensures early detection.
- Cultural Controls: Implementation of strict greenhouse and field hygiene measures, such as removing infested plant material and controlling alternate host plants, reduces pest population buildup.
- Biological and Chemical Controls: Judicious use of approved biopesticides and selective insecticides, integrated with timing to minimize resistance and residue issues, forms a critical layer in pest management.
- Pre-Harvest Measures: Detailed protocols govern the timing of pesticide applications, harvesting practices, and quarantine of suspect lots to avoid contamination.
- Post-Harvest Controls: Inspection and sorting processes at packing houses and cold storage facilities ensure only pest-free flowers are exported.
- Traceability and Record-Keeping: Comprehensive documentation of all pest control activities, inspections, and movement of export consignments facilitates transparency and compliance verification.
- Training and Capacity Building: Regular training of farmers, scouts, exporters, and inspectors supports consistent and effective system implementation.
Multi-Stakeholder Coordination
The protocol was developed through a consultative process involving government bodies, farmer organizations and export associations like FPEAK, researchers, and regulatory agencies. This collaboration ensures practicality and buy-in across the value chain.
Impact and Compliance
This system approach has been crucial in addressing escalating export inspection rates (from 5% in 2019 to 25% in 2024) due to increased FCM interceptions. It minimizes shipment rejections and sustains Kenya’s access to the EU market.
Moreover, new technologies, such as automated and smart pest monitoring projects, complement the system approach by providing early warnings and data-driven decision support to stakeholders.
In conclusion, Kenya’s System Approach for managing False Codling Moth in cut safeguards not only the quality and safety of Kenyan floriculture exports but also protects critical economic livelihoods tied to this globally competitive sector.