Thousands of farmers in Kirinyaga County have received training on how to use farm chemicals safely as part of a campaign aimed to reduce the harmful effects of these chemicals on people and the environment.
The training was organized by both the national and county governments, and focused mainly on rice, as well as fruits, vegetables, tea, and coffee.
Governor Anne Waiguru said the county has been helping farmers learn how to use fewer chemicals, especially when growing crops like tomatoes and French beans.
She also mentioned that her government is promoting organic farming, and the results are starting to show.
“Statistics have shown that cancer cases in our county are on the rise and since we are not sure of the cause, we are putting effort to reduce use of chemicals on our produce and see whether we can arrest the challenge,” she said.
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During a training session in Mwea, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Dr. John Gachara, explained why the program is important.
He noted that many small-scale farmers misuse pesticides, which creates dangers for both the farmers and consumers.
“Many farmers misuse chemicals, leading to hazards that affect both them and consumers,” he said.
Gachara added that the county has trained agricultural officers and 112 new agripreneurs who are helping farmers learn the correct way to handle agrochemicals.
He said using chemicals properly will reduce health problems and improve the quality of crops in the county.
The training included all major farming groups in the county.
“We are collaborating with the government to train our farmers on the safe use of pesticides and this training will ensure that the food we produce for local and international markets meet the international safety standards,” Peter Chege from the Mwea Irrigation Water Users Association said.
