Kagwe Pushes for COMESA-Wide Pesticide Ban
Besides a universal prohibition of pesticides, Kagwe also proposed sharing agricultural technology such as cattle vaccines, having cross-border trade protocols
Kagwe expressed fear that the situation, where a banned product in one member state is freely available in another, undermines sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. Photo/Citizen Digital
BY Juliet Jerotich
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has urged COMESA member states to boldly move against the use of harmful pesticides. He warned that the persistent availability of banned agrochemicals in some member states threatens food safety, public health, and regional trade integrity.
While speaking at the 9th Joint COMESA Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment in Lusaka, Kagwe highlighted that the moment one member state bans a pesticide, it should be banned across the entire bloc. COMESA brings together 21 nations, including Kenya, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Kagwe expressed fear that the situation, where a banned product in one member state is freely available in another, undermines sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. This, he continued, leaves consumers, farmers, and the regional markets to contend with unnecessary risks.
He also warned that disparate rules in the bloc enable ruthless traders to exploit loopholes in the regulations. Such traders, according to him, are triggering contamination and eroding consumer trust in regional agri-food systems.
Kenya, he said, believes a unified system of regulation is essential to protect public health and promote fair agricultural trade. “We cannot allow fragmented policy to put our people at risk,” he asserted. “It is not an option, it’s a necessity—harmonizing pesticide standards.”
Besides a universal prohibition of pesticides, Kagwe also proposed sharing agricultural technology such as cattle vaccines, having cross-border trade protocols for certified seeds and promoting digital platforms for farm planning. He also said that the collaboration would not only increase productivity but also regional food systems.
He challenged the ministers present to move beyond words and take positive, decisive steps. “Let this session be remembered not for what we talked about, but for what we dared to do,” he ended.
Kagwe’s call highlights growing concern about the dangers of unsafe pesticides and the need for consistent regulation across borders. If adopted, his proposals could mark a turning point in ensuring food safety, protecting public health, and boosting trust in agricultural trade within the COMESA region.
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