Kagwe pushes for global ban on hazardous farm chemicals

Douglas Ndege, a farmer in Borabu, Nyamira County, sprays his beans with herbicides. [Stanley Ongwae/Standard]

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has called for urgent global action to eliminate hazardous agricultural chemicals, warning that farmers in developing countries continue to be exposed to products banned elsewhere due to health and environmental concerns.

Speaking during the opening of the World Farmers Organization (WFO) Annual Meeting 2026 in Nairobi, Kagwe urged governments, regulators and industry players to end what he described as double standards in the regulation and distribution of agricultural inputs.

The meeting which was hosted in Kenya brought together agricultural leaders and stakeholders from across the world to discuss key challenges facing the global farming sector.

The Cabinet Secretary maintained that the continued use of chemicals prohibited in some countries but exported to others poses a significant threat to farmers' health, food systems and the environment.

"We must work together to eliminate hazardous agricultural chemicals and end the double standards that expose farmers in developing countries to products that have already been banned elsewhere because of their risks to human health and the environment," said Kagwe.

He further called for harmonized global standards, stronger regulatory frameworks and enhanced international cooperation to address the growing challenge of unsafe and counterfeit agricultural inputs.

He stressed that protecting farmers' health and wellbeing should remain central to agricultural policies, investments and innovation efforts worldwide.

The WFO Annual Meeting has brought together farmers' organizations, policymakers, development partners, researchers and agribusiness leaders from different regions of the world.

The forum provides a platform for participants to exchange experiences, discuss emerging challenges and explore solutions aimed at strengthening food systems and improving livelihoods.

Kagwe said hosting the meeting gives Kenya an opportunity to deepen collaboration with international partners and showcase the country's agricultural transformation agenda.

The event was jointly presided over by Kagwe and World Farmers Organization President Arnold Puech d'Alissac, who highlighted the importance of global cooperation in addressing food security, climate change, market access and sustainable agricultural production.

Also present were leaders of the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), led by Board Chair Cornelly Serem and Acting Director-General Calistus Kundu, alongside representatives from farmer organisations and development agencies.

During the meeting, AFA showcased its work in regulating, developing and promoting scheduled crops through exhibitions highlighting agricultural value chains and market development initiatives.

The authority also presented interventions aimed at improving productivity, enhancing market access and helping farmers and agribusinesses comply with international standards to expand their presence in global markets.

The annual gathering comes as countries increasingly seek sustainable agricultural solutions amid growing concerns over climate change, food security and the safety of agricultural inputs.

Delegates are expected to hold discussions on policies and innovations that can support resilient farming systems while protecting farmers, consumers and the environment.

The three days annual summit is hosted by Kenya National Farmer`s Federation (KENAFF), an umbrella organization for all farmers in Kenya, acting as the democratic and non-partisan "Voice of the Farmer" (Sauti ya Mkulima).

Farmers more so women and young people called for the government as well as relevant authorities to include them in farming programs as well as policy making saying they feel they have always been neglected or not well included.

They added that farmers need affordable inputs, access to finances, reliable access to markets, climate-smart technologies, more digital market platforms, a stronger farmer organization, and greater participation in policy-making processes.

“As a woman farmer, I wish to emphasize the critical role of women in the agriculture sector. Across Kenya and the globe, women are at the heart of food production, yet they often face barriers in accessing land, finances, technologies, access to markets, and access to information as well. Investing in women farmers is investing in food security, economic growth, resilience, and rural communities,” one of the female farmers from Garissa noted.0