Over 50% of New Pesticide Registrations in Kenya Come from China

According to data from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (PCPB), there were 316 registration applications in 2017–2018. More than 50% of the newly registered pesticide products locally originate from China, many of them applied to cut flowers; registration requirements and procedures for flower crop protection products are simpler than for field crops, while application rates on flowers are far higher than on field crops, creating strong demand for pesticides, biopesticides and fertilisers. In 2017, pesticide imports amounted to KES 13 billion, with import volume of 16,000 tonnes and exports of 425 tonnes, mainly to Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

Common pests and diseases on flower farms include downy mildew, whitefly-borne disease, predatory mites, stem borers, thrips, whitefly, mealybugs, diamondback moth and grey mould.

Fertilisers used on flower farms in the Naivasha area are mostly conventional ammonium, calcium, potassium, copper, magnesium and urea types, and water-soluble fertilisers are also used in large quantities.

Kenya imports KES 4.5 billion (about USD 45 million) of pesticides each year, and import volumes rise year on year; 15,498 tonnes were imported in 2015/2016. Farms in Kenya use 101 active ingredients, and biopesticides are very popular; insecticides rank first by import volume, followed by fungicides and herbicides.

Main herbicide products: glyphosate, paraquat, terbuthylazine, mesotrione, metolachlor, 2,4-D, bromoxynil, acetochlor. Main fungicides: mancozeb, copper formulations, sulphur, metalaxyl + mancozeb, mancozeb + cymoxanil, tebuconazole. Main insecticides: pyrethroids, chlorpyrifos, carbaryl, abamectin, imidacloprid, acetamiprid.