The government and partners will introduce a pesticide residue framework to enhance correct use of chemicals.
This is aimed at raising awareness, access to and use of affordable integrated pest management solutions.
The Cabi-led global PlantwisePlus programme is supporting the development of a national pesticide residue monitoring framework for Kenya, amid concerns that incorrect use of pesticides poses a significant risk to food safety.
Cabi is an international organisation working to improve people’s lives worldwide by providing information and applying expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment.
Scientists from Cabi’s regional centre for Africa have so far supported the Pest Control Products Board and the Kenya Plant Health Inspection Service to hold three virtual meetings on the issue of pesticide residues.
Cabi’s integrated crop management advisor Dr Melanie Bateman said Kenya has identified a strategic need for the development of a formal, coordinated pesticide residue monitoring framework.
This is aimed at supporting evidence-based food safety risk management of pesticide residues.
“The PlantwisePlus programme, as part of its pesticide risk reduction pathway, has been supporting the government of Kenya to address this need with a series of three virtual meetings,” she said.
The pesticide risk reduction pathway is focused on raising awareness, access to and use of affordable integrated pest management solutions.
According to a 2023 report on highly hazardous pesticides in Kenya by the Route to Food, pesticide residues exceeding limits have been found in Kenyan food, particularly in tomatoes and kale.
The report stated that the pesticide market in Kenya has experienced significant growth, leading to concerns about the harmful effects of registered pesticides on human health and the environment.
“Out of the 310 pesticide products used, 195 products (63 per cent) containing one or two active ingredients that are categorised as highly hazardous pesticides, accounting for 76 per cent of the total volume of pesticides used. This indicates that farmers in Kenya predominantly use HHPs, despite their known detrimental effects on human health and the environment,” the report revealed.
“Notably, almost half (44 per cent) of the total volume of pesticides used in Kenya are already banned in Europe due to their unacceptable risk to human health and the environment. PRODUCT USE Among the top 30 pesticide products in terms of volume, the majority are highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) as well,” the report read.
According to Cabi, the detection of pesticide residues on crops can signal problems.
For example, when pesticide residues are present at levels exceeding the maximum residue level, they indicate that a pesticide was used incorrectly and may also signal a food safety concern.
When pesticides are detected on a crop that they are not registered for, then this may signal issues such as residues of persistent pesticides in the soil or water, spray drift, off-label usage or counterfeits.
Furthermore, when banned or illegal pesticides are detected, this is a sign of larger market problems such as illegal imports or environmental contamination. The absence of pesticide residues is also an important testament to quality assurance.
In March this year, Cabi contributed Sh4.8 billion to Farm programme to help in reducing pesticides and plastics in agriculture.
Farm, which is funded by the Global Environment Facility and with Sh39.2 billion in co-financing, seeks to catalyse a framework for regulatory and financial investment in the agricultural sector.
This is to detoxify the sector by eliminating the use of the most harmful inputs such as highly hazardous pesticides to food production systems.
The programme is led by the United Nations Environment Programme and implemented by the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
In the first phase, the programme is being carried out in relevant country institutions in Kenya, Ecuador, India, Lao PDR, Philippines, Uruguay, and Vietnam, with leadership from national institutions. In subsequent stages, it will be scaled out to additional countries.
Bateman said due to increasing plant health threats, more pesticides are used every year around the world.
“PlantwisePlus recognises the urgent need to increase the uptake of lower-risk plant protection products by farmers,” she said.
“By working closely with national and local government entities, commercial enterprises and farmers, we identify opportunities to reduce pesticide-related risks. Information on pesticide residues in food can help to identify risks and opportunities for risk reduction.
“This includes identifying and implementing classical biocontrol methods and harnessing the potential of augmentative biocontrol and biopesticide solutions to reduce the impact of priority pests.”