Alarm over increased use of cancer-causing agrochemicals on crops in Lamu

Agriculturalists in Lamu County have raised alarm over the increased use of toxic agrochemicals and pesticides by farmers in crop production.

The same toxic products are equally used in the drying, preservation and storage of farm produce to later be sold to the public.

The trend is especially common in Mpeketoni,Lamu county’s agricultural hub and major food basket.

The agricultural experts also noted that farmers in Baharini, Hongwe, Mavuno, Poromoko, Widho, Salama, Mkunumbi, Hindi and surrounding areas were employing wrong ratios in the mixing, loading, and spraying of pesticides on their crops, eventually intoxicating the crops and their produce.

Lamu County Executive for Agriculture, James Gichu attributed the situation to the increased sale of illegal and unregistered pesticides and other agrochemicals in many of the local Agrovets in the region.

He said his office was currently undertaking public sensitisation campaigns on the dangers of using toxic pesticide concoctions on farm crops.

“We are aware of the use of toxic pesticides and we are also aware that it’s mostly because of the continued illegal sale and distribution of agrovet products in this place. We have campaigns in place in order to end that,” said Gichu.

He warned agro-wholesalers against selling unregistered products to farmers and at the same time revealed plans to clamp down on illegal agrovets in the county.

He said the end products sold to the public after coming in contact with such chemicals have the ability to cause untold ecotoxicology and health implications amongst them cancer.

Former Lamu county MCA Amina Kale urged security agencies to declare such areas as crime scenes to pave the way for investigations.

“We have had few cancer cases here that are suspected to be linked to the consumption of such crops. We want farms in Mpeketoni declared crime scenes so that the culprits can be stopped before the entire population here suffers,” said Kale.

Mpeketoni farmers, however, defended themselves saying not all of them are involved in such schemes.

They cited poor education and awareness, limited agricultural subventions, quests for cheap chemicals, overdose, and many more as the possible reasons behind many farmers’ persistence in using or applying toxic chemicals in their crops.

Farmer Joash Kamende of Baharini area said most farmers are unknowingly using toxic pesticides as they have no knowledge on what and what not to use.

“Mostly, the farmers are not even aware of the contents of whatever they are using on their crops and any health effects if any. People just use what’s available in the hope that it will help keep pests away. The farmers need education and awareness,” said Kamende.

Farmer Lucy Wambui of Salama village said a majority of them simply go for the cheapest pesticides with little regard for the side effects or any impact such may have on humans.

“The farmers here are ignorant. We use things we don’t even know. The agrovets are after making sales and so no one bothers to educate you when you make a purchase. It is all business,” said Wambui.