Food Security

Agroecology has established itself as a concept opposed to industrial agriculture - also because it always takes society and power structures into account: It provides the framework for equal rights for women in agriculture.

Food safety concerns have been largely ignored by relevant stakeholders with serious consequences being experienced by Kenyan consumers. It is evident from recent reports that Kenyans are consuming heavily contaminated and unsafe foods and beverages leading to a number of health problems and foodborne diseases .

The debate on the use of pesticides in Kenya is one that clearly illustrates the dilemma. Under the government’s watch, the industry has been pushing for increased pesticide use, despite rising user and consumer safety concerns. International companies generate less than 6 percent of global pesticide sales in Africa, making the continent a key market for profitable trade. 

Agriculture accounts for about 24% of Kenya’s GDP with an estimated 75% of the population working in the sector either directly or indirectly. As an agricultural economy and while promoting mainly conventional agriculture, Kenya’s demand for pesticides is relatively high and steadily increasing. In 2018 Kenya imported 17,803 tonnes valued at 128 Mill $. These pesticides are an assortment of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, fumigants, rodenticides, growth regulators, defoliators, proteins, surfactants and wetting agents. Of the total pesticide imports, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides account for about 87% in terms of volume and 88% of the total cost of pesticide imports.