Supporting Integrated Pest Management in Kenya
The Pesticide Management Initiative in the East African Region (PEAR-Kenya) supports Integrated Pest Management (IPM), food safety and the reduction of risks of pest control products use. In order to contribute to sustainable agriculture production, Dutch experts on pesticide management & IPM from Wageningen University and Research (WUR) and other Dutch organisations collaborate together with Kenyan stakeholders in this project funded by the Netherlands. The project is part of a larger initiative on harmonization of pesticide management in the East-African Region.
Expert visit
In the first week of June 2018 the Advisory Committee (AC) of the PEAR-Kenya project visited the Netherlands on invitation by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). The projects’ AC members are drawn from organisations that deal with pesticides and IPM in one way or another and include PCPB, KEPHIS, MoA&I, AAK, FPEAK, KFC, University, IBMA-Kenya and ICIPE.
Pesticide Management
The aim of the visit was to explore Dutch and Kenyan practices on pesticide management, IPM, plant protection and (food) safety issues and to share knowledge and experiences. The full program entailed visits to Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Van den Berg Roses (rose grower), Quality Control Bureau (KCB), Koppert, the Dutch registration authority (CTGB), the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the research institutes RIVM and Wageningen University and Research.
Lessons learnt
Participants were very content with the range of topics addressed and expressed their positive expectations for the continuation of the project on pesticide management in Kenya. Some of the lessons learned include:
- To effectively promote IPM, the following 4 As are needed: Awareness creation, Adaptability, Availability and Affordability of the products.
- We live in a global market place. Decisions made at e.g. EU level affect the export of commodities from Kenya. Collaboration and information sharing is therefore important.
- The participants acknowledged the importance of Public-Private Partnerships between organisations. During the visit many industry-led initiatives passed the revue that were implemented jointly. The delegation agreed that also collaboration between parties in Kenya is needed
- Use of (data) technology has been embraced in all areas including registration and monitoring of pesticides and inspection of food imports and exports
- Dutch inspection is very efficient and is characterised by decentralisation of functions to various organisation, clear procedures, clear mandates and clear qualification requirements of users and distributors.
- The visit resulted also in a better understanding on current EU registration procedures and decision making, especially on Neonicotinoids
Conclusion
This visit gave a positive boost to the Advisory Committee to support the PEAR-Kenya project and achieve enhanced effects. One of the main lessons learned was that no one organization can work on its own and that parties need to collaborate, also in Kenya.
Up till the end of the project, which is foreseen in 2020, the project and the advisory committee will work together on pesticide management issues and support IPM in Kenya by working on e.g. registration procedures of pest control products, human and environmental risk assessment and IPM curriculum development. Enhancing the collaboration among Kenyan and Dutch public and private sector stakeholders will be one of the main topics on the agenda of the next Advisory Committee meeting.
For more questions regarding the PEAR project you can contact: In the Netherlands; Louise Wipfler- louise.wipfler@wur.nl and in Kenya, Emily Osena- osenaemily@gmail.com for any other questions or suggestions you can send an email to nai-lnv@minbuza.nl
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