KEPHIS urges Mwea farmers to avoid unapproved chemicals in snail control

KENYA – The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has warned rice farmers in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, against using unapproved chemicals to control the golden apple snail.

The pest has destroyed up to 80 percent of rice seedlings across 1,500 acres, threatening livelihoods in one of Kenya’s most important rice-producing regions.

KEPHIS Managing Director Prof. Theophilus Mutui said some farmers have started using unregistered pesticides to combat the invasive snail, which was first reported in the area in 2020.

“Using unregulated pesticides can lead to toxic residues in rice, endangering lives and harming ecosystems,” Mutui said during a farmer training session on August 4. He warned that the use of such chemicals could also result in export bans from key markets like the European Union.

A 2023 Route to Food Initiative report showed that 76 percent of Kenya’s pesticides are classified as highly hazardous, with some linked to cancer and water contamination.

The warning comes as farmers struggle with the pest’s rapid spread. Known for its brown shell and clusters of pink eggs, the golden apple snail can lay up to 3,000 eggs at a time and survive for months in mud.

Farmers such as Monica Wambui have faced steep control costs. “Chemicals seem faster, but we’re told they’re risky. We need affordable, safe solutions,” she said. Wambui spends about KSh 20,000 ($154) per hectare on manual methods like handpicking snails and eggs, which offer only partial relief.

KEPHIS and the Mwea Research Centre are promoting safer control options. These include draining fields for the first month after planting, introducing ducks to feed on young snails, and placing barriers in water canals.

Trials with biopesticides are ongoing, with Governor Anne Waiguru confirming the county’s investment in research for long-term management. “We’re investing in research for sustainable snail management,” she said, noting close work with the National Irrigation Authority.

The government plans to expand Mwea’s irrigation network to increase annual rice production to 846,000 tonnes by 2032. KEPHIS is also enforcing quarantine measures to stop the snail from reaching other schemes like Ahero and Bura. Training and further research findings are expected early next year.

In a related development, Côte d’Ivoire has secured a US$1.2 million grant from the Japanese government to strengthen the digital infrastructure of its rice sector. The Food and Agriculture Organization will manage the funds, which Agriculture Minister Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani said will improve operations and access to data.

“This support reflects our shared belief that technology can offer practical solutions for farmers. With the right tools, we can bridge the gap between production and consumption,” he said.

The West African country, which produces 1.4 million tonnes of milled rice annually against a demand of 2.5 million tonnes, aims for self-sufficiency by 2026. Part of the plan involves expanding the use of Orange Agritech, a digital platform that provides weather updates, water data, stock tracking, and payment tools.

The new funding is expected to extend these tools to more farmers and businesses across the value chain.

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