Pesticide use in Kenya

The use of hazardous pesticides to produce food has come under increased scrutiny around the world and in Kenya. Together with Route to Food Initiative and Kenyan Organic Agriculture Network we developed strategies to sensitize farmers and consumers to drive a movement towards more regenerative agriculture.

Lately we prepared a dossier titled, “Scientific Report on Pesticides in the Kenyan Market.”  on behalf of the petitioners in Public Petition (No. 70 of 2019) regarding withdrawal of harmful chemical pesticides in the Kenyan market. The dossier has been submitted to the Pest Control Products Board, in response to the PCPB circular dated 6 July 2021, calling for public comments on pesticides active ingredients in Kenya. EcoTrac currently still provides scientific support to this campaign and developed various courses on Environmental Risk Assessment of Pesticides, adapted to the specific needs of the experts.

Pesticide use in Nigeria

Pesticide use in Nigeria is very unregulated. Farmers are still using banned pesticides and highly hazardous pesticides are the most common pesticides to control pests and diseases. Together with Heinrich Böll Foundation (Abuja) we assessed the registration and use of pesticides. This serves as the first step towards awareness creation amongst farmers, consumers and policy makers. As a result, scientists and NGOs formed a ‘Coalition against the use of Highly Hazardous pesticides’.