Nairobi – The Validation Workshop for the Draft Phytosanitary Policy went through stakeholders comments recently, in order to strengthen the document that will guide phytosanitary matters in the country. The document has gone through stakeholders consultations who have given their comments and inputs to have a strong document. The stakeholders have included private and public sector players. As Agriculture is a devolved function, county governments were heavily involved in inputting the document.
Agriculture CS Hon. Peter Munya notes that all countries including Kenya have put in place phytosanitary(plant health)systems to minimize introduction of plant pests into their territories; however, the task of protecting Kenya’s agriculture and environment against the introduction and spread of new pests is becoming increasingly challenging due to increased international trade in plants, plant products and other articles that act as a pathway of plant pests and increased international travel that hastens the movement of goods and people. “In the recent years, there has been several incursions of new pests in our country that have had devastating effects on crop production and environment,” he stays.
Participants from the public and private sectors as well as county governments after a validation workshop on the Draft Phytosanitary Policy in Nairobi. The document aims to provide a road map for the creation of an enabling environment for the protection of Kenya’s plant resources and also provide an effective phytosanitary system and frameworks to facilitate fair and safe competitive international trade
“The policy will therefore not only provide a road map for the creation of an enabling environment for the protection of Kenya’s plant resources but will also provide an effective phytosanitary system and frameworks to facilitate fair and safe competitive international trade,” he adds.
MD Prof. Theophilus Mutui noted that the country has stayed without a Phytosanitary Policy for a long time. “A Phytosanitary Policy is the Ministry’s outline of the interventions to be implemented in order to create an enabling environment for plant health in agricultural production and safe trade in plants and plant products. An effective phytosanitary system provides mechanisms for prevention of introduction, spread and establishment of foreign injurious pests and noxious weeds. It also provides a phytosanitary assurance system for plants and plant products exported from Kenya thereby meeting international market requirements,” he added.