This archive report was first published on 15 December 2019.
Kenya's horticulture sector is facing a significant threat from the papaya mealybug pest, which has devastated papaya crops in the coastal region and poses a serious threat to roses and vegetables.
According to the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis), the mealybug can cause losses of up to 70 percent when it attacks a crop, and if left unchecked, could inflict heavy losses on the horticulture sector.
"Papaya mealybug is now becoming a serious threat that can affect our vegetables and roses if we do not contain it on time," said Dr. Esther Kimani, Kephis managing director.
The bug was first detected in the coastal region and has since spread to other parts of the country, including Mwea, where it has devastated hundreds of farmers who are planting cotton.
Phytosanitary requirements are a key condition that countries have to comply with or risk export ban, and Kephis has warned that it will have no option but to ban export crops found to be infected by the pest.
For instance, avocados from Kenya were denied access to the South African market 10 years ago after the country's authorities raised concerns over the presence of disease-causing fruit fly in the avocado coming from Kenya.
Kenya's avocado has also been given stringent rules to adhere to before it gets access to the lucrative Chinese market.
Additionally, Australia tightened its rules on exports of Kenyan roses in October, saying that they could only accept the flowers if they comply with the zero-pest rule.
