Report raises concern about potato safety

A bucket of Potato retailing at Sh500 at Endarasha area in Nyeri county, July 2, 2023. [File, Standard]

A study has revealed that potato farmers in Nyandarua County disregard manufacturers' instructions on pesticide application.

Egerton University researchers, in a study titled "Influence of On-farm Pesticide Practices and Processing Methods on Pesticide Residue Levels in Potato Tubers in Nyandarua County, Kenya," noted widespread noncompliance among potato farmers regarding manufacturer instructions for pesticide application rates, frequency, and pre-harvest intervals.

Millicent Kanario, Joseph Wafula, and John Masani Nduko, in the study, noted that the disregard of the manufacturers' instructions had led to the accumulation of excessive pesticide residues in potato products, threatening the safety of consumers.

"Only 11.85 per cent of farmers adhered to the recommended manufacturer's application rates, with the majority relying on advice from agrochemical retailers (74.63 per cent) or other farmers (13.32 per cent)," the report says.

Mixing of pesticides was revealed to be a common practice.