The Nakuru County Government has intensified its grassroots sustainable agriculture initiatives as part of efforts to boost farmers’ incomes and strengthen household food security across the county.
Speaking during a Farmers’ Field Day in Kamara Ward, Kuresoi North Sub-County, Agriculture CECM Leonard Bor reaffirmed the county’s commitment to promoting safe and responsible agricultural practices. The event was organized by aak-GROW/CropLife Kenya in partnership with Starlight Farmers’ Cooperative Society through the Mashinani Initiative, under the theme “Safe and Responsible Handling of Pest Control Products: A Key to Food Safety and Food Security.”
The field day targeted potato farmers, drawn from one of the county’s leading potato-producing regions, with training focused on the safe handling and use of pest control products. Farmers were taken through key stewardship practices, including purchasing pesticides only from PCPB-licensed agrovets, proper transport and storage of chemicals, reading and following label instructions, observing pre-harvest intervals, using personal protective equipment (PPE), engaging certified spray service providers, understanding exposure risks, and safely disposing of empty pesticide containers.
Bor urged farmers to reduce dependency on conventional pesticides by adopting Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The training also covered best planting and agronomic practices such as intercropping to boost soil fertility, efficient use of agricultural inputs, and the use of diffuse light stores for safe seed and harvest storage.
“As a county, we remain committed to promoting safe, responsible, and sustainable farming. Days like this remind us that food safety begins at the farm—in the choices farmers make and the knowledge they apply. When we handle pest control products correctly, embrace integrated pest management, and adopt good agricultural practices, we protect our soils, crops, and health while securing the future of food production in Nakuru,” Bor said.
He commended partner organizations and farmers for their dedication and called for continued collaboration to enhance safety and productivity across the potato value chain.
aak-GROW/CropLife Kenya, one of the key partners, continues to champion sustainable agriculture and food security through its network of stakeholders in the pest control products sector, comprising producers, manufacturers, importers, formulators, distributors, and users.
“It is important to practice farming with care for the environment, plants, and animals,” noted farmer Mercy Wathaka.
Other partners present included Syngenta, Bayer EA, Corteva Agriscience, Osho Chemicals, Botachem, Twiga Chemicals, CKL Africa, OCP, EA Seed, the National Potato Council of Kenya, the Cereal Growers Association (CGA), and Baraka College.
