Kenyan Farmers Trained on Safe Use of Pesticides to Reduce Poisoning

In a concerted effort to protect both human health and the environment, Kenyan authorities and agricultural stakeholders are stepping up training for farmers on the safe use of agrochemicals. In Kirinyaga County, thousands of farmers have taken part in a sensitization campaign focused on reducing misuse of pesticides, especially among smallholder rice, horticulture, tea, and coffee producers.
The training, spearheaded by both national and county governments, emphasizes critical practices such as correct product selection, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), proper storage, and awareness of pre‑harvest intervals. Leaders say these measures will help reduce health risks for farmers and consumers and improve the quality of farm produce.
In Nakuru County, a partnership between the County Government and CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International) has launched the Ukulima True campaign — part of the PlantwisePlus programme — to train farmers in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and safer, more sustainable pest control methods. The initiative also supports the adoption of bio-control products and promotes environmentally friendly pest control alternatives.
Meanwhile, the aak‑GROW initiative has begun a behavior‑change drive in Nakuru to address long-standing pesticide safety gaps. As part of this, over 120 Community Health Promoters have been trained to educate farming households on using PPE, proper chemical handling, identifying counterfeit pesticides, and accessing a national poison‑information hotline. Farmers warn that unsafe pesticide use not only causes acute poisoning but can lead to long-term health risks, making these training programs critical for protecting farmers, consumers, and the wider environment.