Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe, has unveiled a series of interventions to protect Kenya’s macadamia sector, which suffers losses worth Sh2.88 billion annually due to destructive pests.
During a high-level meeting at his office, CS Kagwe emphasized the urgent need for integrated pest management, reduced reliance on imported synthetic chemicals, and the adoption of residue-compliant solutions to safeguard both domestic yields and export standards. Farmers are reporting massive crop destruction caused by stink bugs, nut borers, and thrips, intensified by climate change.
Kagwe directed the Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya (PPCK), Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), and county extension teams to educate farmers on effective pest control methods. He stressed that PPCK’s scientific formulations must be protected as national assets while ensuring faster approval of organic and pyrethrum-based products.
The CS also highlighted PPCK’s financial challenges, including Sh3.5 billion in debts and pending payments to farmers, signaling plans for a lease model to bring long-term sustainability. By reviving the pyrethrum and macadamia value chains, the government hopes to secure Kenya’s position in high-value global markets while boosting farmers’ incomes.
