Management of Pesticide Residues as a Quality Control Measure for Export Tomato

Abstract

Tomato production is of great economic value to people of Karie, Mwea, Kirinyaga County as many farmers have focused in tomato production to earn their living. Tomatoes in Karie are attacked by various pest such as American bollworm, Aphids, White flies, Mites and Tuta. Farmer’s main market is the local and urban market and also for consumption as there is no enough production for export. Extension training is done annually by Techno serve and KEPHIS. One of the major constraints in exporting tomato in Kenya is the level of pesticide residue found in the tomatoes which are to be exported. KEPHIS has come up with guidelines concerning pesticide use that should be adhered to by every farmer who intends to export tomato to the E.U market. The study was conducted in Karie in Mwea in Kirinyaga District to determine the number of farmers implementing the pesticide residue management guide for export tomato and to investigate on practices of management of pesticide residue for export tomato. Using SPSS computer package, data was analyzed. Results of the study indicated that all farmers interviewed in Karie, Mwea were aware of the export pesticide guide by KEPHIS. All the farmers used aerial method for pesticide spraying and used Dimethoate as part of the pesticide. All of the farmers used preservation of pre harvest interval as there pesticide management practice. The main pesticide management practice done by farmers of Karie, Mwea is preservation of pre harvest interval. Poor follow up by extensionists and production of tomatoes for local market only contributed greatly to the lack of implementation of the export pesticide guide. It was concluded that, farmers of Karie, Mwea do not implement the export pesticide guide by KEPHIS. It was therefore recommended that a regular scheduled extension service to farmers in Karie, Mwea should be enhanced to increase the level of implementation of the guide.