The government will distribute one million pyrethrum seedlings to farmers in a move aimed at ensuring the country recaptures control of the global pyrethrum market share.
Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said that the government’s pyrethrum revival plan was gathering momentum even as the growing demand for natural insecticides continued to present a significant opportunity for the country’s pyrethrum industry.
Koskei admitted that the country was once a major supplier of the cash crop to the global market accounting for over 70 percent, where the crop earned farmers a lot of money between the 1970s and 1990s.
The chief of staff noted that demand for the Kenyan pyrethrum was presently the highest in international markets with the European Union and the United States said to be keen on chemicals sprayed on horticulture products entering their markets adding that the local pyrethrum has a ready market owing to its high quality.
He noted that the revival of pyrethrum farming in Kenya was yielding positive results, with the state putting in place plans to support farmers and increase production.
The chief of staff indicated that the revival plans were being driven by factors like increased global demand for natural insecticides, government support in terms of seedling distribution and favourable climatic conditions.
Koskei observed that the local market had been opened to allow private participation, which he said has led to increased competition and potentially better prices for farmers.
The chief of staff made the remarks when he presided over the launch of the distribution of one million clean pyrethrum planting materials at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) grounds in Elburgon, within Njoro Sub-County.
Koskei said that with the revival, there have been good success stories from farmers, with one acre fetching up to Sh25,000 a month.
He expressed optimism that Kenya would recapture and command the world market in the next five years.
The chief of staff assured farmers that the Kenya Kwanza administration would continue pumping resources, working with the private sector and partnering with research institutions to support them towards revival of the multimillion-dollar subsector.
He noted that the global market for pesticides was currently valued at US Dollars 50 billion, whereas the world-based market for pyrethrum-based products stood at US Dollars 200 million.
“The trend in recent years has seen declining production despite demand for natural pyrethrum products exceeding supply and this augurs well for the future of the pyrethrum sector in Kenya,” he noted.
Koskei observed that in its heyday, the cash crop supported over one million farmers adding that another major contributor to the fall of the sector in Kenya was the development of synthetic or man-made versions of pyrethrins known as pyrethroids.
“Due to increased discovery of toxins in synthetic or man-made versions of pyrethrins, the world is now ‘coming back’ to natural pyrethrins as governments (especially in developed countries) prepare to phase off the synthetic pyrethroids. This is a godsend opportunity for the pyrethrum industry in Kenya,” the chief of staff explained.
Koskei however expressed optimism that efforts by both levels of government were yielding fruit as the cash crop was currently being grown by 38,000 farmers noting that in 2020, the acreage under the crop was 7,000 acres but has now risen to 9,500 acres.
He said production of pyrethrum dry flowers last year was at 1,634 metric tons valued at Sh533 million, compared to 285 metric tons valued at Sh57 million that was recorded in 2020.
The Chief of Staff indicated that during the same period, the value of pyrethrin extracts grew from 5.7 tons in 2o2o to 32 tons in 2024 with a value of Sh132 million in 2020 and Sh807 million in 2024 respectively, with average farmer payment rising from Kshs 280 per kilo to Sh308 of dry flowers of 1.5 percent pyrethrin content.
He further said that the global demand for dry pyrethrum flowers in 2022 stood at 21,000 metric tons against a world production of 5,000 metric tons adding that Kenya’s supply amounted to 1,634 metric tons.
Koskei challenged the Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture Food Authority (AFA) to ensure that Kenya recaptures its previous 70 percent world market share by 2027 through supporting and encouraging initiatives aimed at investing in modern technologies and development of clean planting materials.
He noted that the tissue culture technologies enhanced quality, efficiency and sustainability of pyrethrum seedling production leading to improved yields for the farms, higher pyrethrin content and reduced losses from diseases and environmental pressures.
He however expressed concern that currently, there were conflicting policies and regulations governing the pyrethrum sector and there was need to harmonize them into one law.
He hailed AFA for providing solar driers to farmers in Nakuru, Nyandarua, West Pokot and Bomet and pointed out that the gesture was a revolutionary change in post-harvest management that reduced losses for farmers of the cash crop.
Pyrethrum is grown for its extract (known as pyrethrins) that originates from the plant’s flowers. It is used in the development of most household insecticides that are toxic to mosquitoes, fleas, moths, bedbugs, ants and other pests.
The 1 million pyrethrum planting materials being distributed by AFA have been produced through a collaborative effort by Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and private actors through tissue culture technologies.
He challenged County Governments to channel more investments towards agricultural extension services.
By Esther Mwangi
