Environmental and economic implications of agricultural trade and promotion policies in Kenya : pest and pesticide management

This report begins with an overview of pest and pesticide management in the country, including regulatory and monitoring capacities. Among the pesticide use patterns examined are those related to traditional export crops (coffee and tea), food crops (maize and vegetables), nontraditional export crops (fruit, flowers, and exotic vegetables), and to the control of ticks on cows. Next, the report describes the status of and research into alternative technologies for reducing pesticide use, including integrated pest management and organic farming; the report also summarizes information on the health and environmental impacts of pesticide use to date. The body of the report discusses economic and policy factors (including agricultural and environmental policies and initiatives of the Kenyan government, lending agencies, donors, and NGOs) that will effect future pesticide use in Kenya. The report uses these factors to project change in pesticide use in the country by crop for the next 3-5 years. The projections, combined with information about hazardous pesticide use patterns, are used to identify environmental and health hazards. The projections are only tentative, given that they are based on incomplete or conflicting information and a volatile political and economic situation, particularly regarding prices of export commodities. Finally, the report recommends ways to improve crop protection and pesticide management in Kenya. In particular, these methods would ensure the equitable distribution of improved crop protection technology.