KENYA – The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is carrying out research to see whether there is a connection between the use of pesticides on crops and the rise in cancer incidence in the Mount Kenya region. The study, which will be carried out in the 10 counties that border the Central region, will aid the government in developing…
READ MORETag: KEPHIS
Kenya leads Africa in automating phytosanitary certification
KENYA – Thanks to a platform created in conjunction with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Safety Authority (NVWA) that has automated phytosanitary certification, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) anticipates an increase in the volume of horticultural exports from Kenya. Prof. Theophilus Mutui, the Managing Director of KEPHIS, claimed that the ePhyto platform will assist in reducing instances of…
READ MORECentre for Agriculture and Biosciences International identifies pests that threaten Kenya’s agriculture
KENYA – The Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) has led a research which prioritizes 120 potential Invasive Alien Species (IAS) that could pose a threat to agriculture and biodiversity in Kenya. From the initial assessment, the study, published in the journal Biological Invasions, drew up a list of 21 arthropods, 9 nematodes and 20 pathogenic species which the…
READ MOREKEPHIS to conduct safety evaluations on Indian wheat
KENYA – The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) is mulling on deploying a team to India to inspect and certify that wheat from the Asian country is free from pests before any importation is allowed. This follows a ban that the regulator instituted on the importation of wheat from India due to a fungal disease known as Karnal Bunt…
READ MOREKEPHIS receives equipment to automate seed inspection
KENYA – The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has received equipment worth Ksh1.3 million for seed inspection, that will enable real time inspection of various crops such as maize, beans, wheat, sorghum, cowpeas, green grams, potato, rice etc. Gatsby Africa donated the 30 tablets to facilitate the implementation of the automated seed certification and plant variety protection system, aimed…
READ MOREKenya turns to biological control of papaya mealybug
KENYA – Kenyan scientists have stepped up the use of the encyrtid wasp to manage the papaya mealybug, which is ranked among top pests affecting papaya and other horticultural crops. The mealybug is also a serious threat to greenhouse farms and can distress whole crops if left unmanaged. Scientists from the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (Cabi), the Kenya…
READ MOREKakuzi gets nod from Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service to export fresh avocados to China
KENYA – Kenyan fresh food producer and exporter Kakuzi Plc, has invested more than Kshs 200 million (US$1.75m) in the last one year to guarantee quality production and environmental management practices that align with both local and globally recognized standards. The company’s sustained co-operation and commitments to maintain the highest possible production and environmental management standards has enabled it to…
READ MOREKenya’s government launches US$ 260 thousand to enable access to certified potato seeds
KENYA – The government of Kenya has launched a ksh30 million ( around US$ 260 thousand) project in Nakuru that will enable more farmers to access certified potato seeds to fight poverty and hunger via increased food production. The project which is financed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries under the National Agricultural Rural Inclusive and Growth Project…
READ MOREChina grants Kenyan avocado exporters access to domestic market dotted with strict requirements
KENYA – Kenyan avocado exporters will now have opportunity to sell their fresh produce to the populous Far East nation, China, which had initially in 2019 only allowed in the fruit in its frozen form. The opening comes after a successful completion of the rigorous Pest Risk Analysis carried out by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and the National…
READ MOREAvocado Society of Kenya crowns KEPHIS as best government institution
KENYA – The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has been crowned as the best government institution in the avocado value chain by the Avocado Society of Kenya (ASOK), a registered association for avocado growers, exporters and other Value – chain players. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Avocado Society of Kenya Mr. Ernest Muthomi, presented Prof Theophilus Mutui,…
READ MORE