Pesticide Use and Alternatives in Kenya
January 28, 1994
Improper handling of fertilizers and pesticides
continues to endanger the lives of Kenya's small-scale
farmers and their families, according to a recently released
study by Mutuku Mwanthi and Violet Kimani at the University
of Nairobi. While Kenya's importation and use of
agrochemicals has more than tripled in the last decade, the
majority of farmers do not handle the hazardous chemicals
safely. Various health complaints among villagers in rural
Kenya have been linked to precarious application and storage
patterns.
Mwanthi and Kimani studied 1800 households in 10 rural
villages in an attempt to determine the magnitude of Kenya's
agrochemical-related health problems. All farmers
interviewed used chemicals extensively, but only 25% took any
safety precautions during application. More than 60% of the
farmers stored the chemicals in their homes in unmarked
containers, despite the dangers associated with long-term
exposure. When asked to interpret the instructions on a
sample label, 60% of the literate respondents found the
wording to be too technical. The researchers concluded that
unsafe storage methods, improper protective clothing and
ambiguous instructions contribute to the growing number of
Kenya's accidental poisonings.
In response to these study results, Mwanthi and Kimani,
with assistance from the communities, initiated an
intervention program to promote safe procedures for handling
and storing agrochemicals. Suggestions from the community
included supplying farm workers with soap and water after
spraying, and notifying the public about the dangers of using
sprayers for purposes other than their intended chemical use.
Community members also requested that manufacturers use
straightforward warning labels which incorporate local names
for the chemicals.
Another example of community-based projects working to
improve the lives of Kenya's farmers is The Organic Farming
Workshop, co-sponsored by the Kenya Institute of Organic
Farming (KIOF) and Coordination in Development, Inc. (CODEL).
The workshop was held in 1990 in Limuru, Kenya for Kenyan
nongovernmental organizations (NGO's). Participants sought to
create a national understanding of and support for natural
approaches to agriculture. The workshop had three main
objectives: to disseminate information on organic farming
methods to environment-oriented development agencies, to
encourage networking, and to provide first-hand training in
practical applications for sustainable agriculture. In
addition to the workshops, a variety of lectures and field
trips gave participants the opportunity to speak with local
farmers.
A report entitled "Organic Farming in Kenya" provides an
overview of the workshop and outlines the various training
sessions which were offered to the 22 participants
representing 18 NGO's. Individual workshops included
composting, soil conservation techniques, and methods for
planting and spacing.
Following the workshop, KIOF staff members provided on-
site visits to workshop participants throughout the growing
season to offer support and encouragement for applying their
new skills. Two reunions have been held for participants to
share their experiences and to engage in creative problem-
solving. At the most recent reunion held in October 1992,
Josephine Onyango of the Kenya Freedom from Hunger Council
(KFFHC) reported that she is now working with 250 women
representing 6 organizations. Ms. Onyango has also
established an organic demonstration plot to introduce women
to organic farming and to study data collected from the crops.
Future plans for the KIOF and CODEL staff include
publishing a quarterly progress report, visiting
organizations with new organic farming projects, and
expanding the network of NGO's interested in organic farming.
Through participant-initiated demonstrations and training
sessions for local organizations and community leaders, KIOF
and CODEL expect to eventually reach three million Kenyan
farmers with their alternative approach to chemical-intensive
agriculture.
Sources: Mutuku A. Mwanthi and Violet N. Kimani, "Patterns of
Agrochemical Handling and Community Response in Central
Kenya", Journal of Environmental Health, vol. 55, no. 7, pp.
11-16, May 1993. "Organic Farming in Kenya: A Report on a
National Workshop for Kenyan Nongovernmental Organizations",
edited by Sr. Mary Ann Smith, M.M. and Rev. Nancy G. Wright,
CODEL.
Contacts: M. Mwanthi, University of Nairobi, College of Health
Sciences, Department of Community Health, P.O. Box 19676,
Nairobi, Kenya. Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF),
P.O. Box 34972, Nairobi, Kenya. Coordination in Development,
Inc. (CODEL), 475 Riverside Drive, Room 1842, New York, NY
10115. Phone (212)-870-3000.
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The Pesticide Action Network Updates Service (PANUPS) is a
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