Использование пестицидов в Кении достигло рекордных показателей, вызывая опасения за здоровье и экологию

Kenya’s pesticide use has reached a record high, highlighting the country’s growing dependence on chemical crop protection even as health and environmental risks rise. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) shows pesticide use in Kenya increased to 6,953 tonnes in 2024, up from 444 tonnes in 1990. This places Kenya ninth in Africa for pesticide use and second in the region, behind Uganda’s 11,293 tonnes. Fungicides and bactericides accounted for the largest share at 3,133 tonnes, followed by herbicides at 2,476 tonnes and insecticides at 1,335 tonnes. Rodenticides made up only nine tonnes. The figures underscore the central role pesticides play in protecting crops from pests, weeds and diseases. For farmers, chemicals remain essential to prevent losses and maintain yields. But the huge use comes with pressures such as surging illegal import markets and hazardous chemicals. A recent report by Route to Food Initiative (RTFI), a programme of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, showed that more than two-thirds of Kenya’s pesticides were classified as highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs). According to FAO, HHPs are a class of pesticides acknowledged to present high levels of acute or chronic hazards to human health and the environment. “Maize, wheat, coffee, potatoes, and tomatoes in Kenya require the largest volumes of pesticides, with a heavy reliance on HHPs,” the Route to Food report notes. According to the report, maize, a staple food for most Kenyan households, relies on 40 different active ingredients for pest, disease, and weed control, with 83 percent of the pesticide volume categorised as HHPs. In 2020, the National Assembly Committee on Health highlighted the complex problems that emerged due to increased exposure to agrochemicals. The Committee’s report, in response to a public petition, was a political statement about the serious public health concerns and environmental consequences of pesticides and their misuse. This is a key issue in Africa, where many countries hold stockpiles of obsolete or highly hazardous pesticides that remain a risk long after use has ended. The costs of relying on pesticides extend beyond the direct expenses farmers incur for chemicals. Long-term pesticide exposure has been linked to a range of health concerns. In the Caribbean, high rates of prostate cancer and multiple myeloma have been reported, with prolonged pesticide exposure identified as a contributing factor. Environmental costs are significant. Weed killers can contaminate rivers and coastal waters, harming fish and damaging sensitive ecosystems such as coral reefs. Discarded pesticide containers also pose risks to livestock and wildlife. The persistence of some pesticides highlights the scale of the challenge. In Guadeloupe and Martinique, contamination from the insecticide chlordecone remains decades after its use was banned. To reduce the use of HHPs, the report recommends implementing integrated pest management strategies such as biological controls, crop rotation and reduced reliance on synthetic pesticides. Also, promote access to knowledge and information to support informed decisions about sustainable agricultural practices, including pest and disease management. Lastly, support research efforts to develop and promote biopesticides and biocontrol methods as alternatives to highly toxic pesticides.