Kenya experienced a reduction in fresh vegetable export earnings, decreasing from approximately $345 million in 2023 to $158 million in 2024. This decline is attributed to concerns about pesticide residues. The export volume dropped from 164,000 to 74,000 tonnes, comparable to 2022's 75,000 tonnes, with a value close to $157 million.
This reduction is linked to Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) issues, with European Union notifications on Kenyan beans and peas highlighting pesticide residues exceeding MRLs. Consumption of food with pesticide residues poses health risks, with some pesticides associated with harm to human health.
In Kenya, 77% of farmers use chemical pest control, making pesticide residue analysis essential for compliance with food safety standards. In March 2019, KEPHIS was appointed as the Public Analyst for the Health Ministry's Public Health Department, overseeing the analysis and enforcement of pesticide standards for Kenyan fresh produce.
The category of fresh horticulture includes fresh vegetables, cut flowers, and fruits. The total export volume of these products decreased from 468,400 tonnes in 2023 to 402,200 tonnes in 2024, marking a 14.1% decrease. Export value declined from $1.1 billion to $957 million, a 12.8% drop, partly due to export restrictions at JKIA, increasing the demand and cost for air cargo space, notably affecting fruit exporters.
Cut flower export earnings decreased slightly from $497 million to $487 million in 2024, affected by the European Union's False Codling Moth regulations, which increased rejection rates. In contrast, fruit export earnings rose from $219 million to $277 million, a 26.5% increase.
Source: Kenyan Wall Street
