Improving pest and disease management to improve the environmental sustainability : The inspiring case of AAA farmers in Kenya

Improving pest and disease management to improve the environmental sustainability : The inspiring case of AAA farmers in Kenya

AAA Growers, one of Kenya’s largest horticulture companies and renowned exporters of premium vegetables and fresh herbs, is making progress in improving pest and disease management on its farms. As part of its commitment to sustainability and quality production, AAA Growers participated in an Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) training organised by COLEAD in October through the NExT Kenya Programme.

Nineteen staff from four farms participated in the comprehensive training, which was tailored to empower on-farm crop protection advisors and practitioners. The training provided participants with the skills needed to design and implement robust pest and disease monitoring programmes, identify key threats and apply effective control measures.

 The initiative had three core objectives:

• Assessment: Evaluation of existing IPDM (Integrated Pest and Disease Management) measures through farm visits and review of records such as spray programmes and scouting logs. IPDM focuses on monitoring pests and implementing biological and cultural control options, with chemical controls playing a supportive rather than disruptive role.
• Custom development: Developing a training programme specifically designed to meet the operational needs of AAA growers.
• Hands-on training: Delivering the training at Simba Farms to ensure hands-on experience.

The training increased the technical capacity of AAA Growers’ staff, focusing on pest identification, setting action thresholds and evaluating management strategies. With the skills gained and recommendations implemented, the company will see a significant reduction in pest and disease incidence. This improvement will ensure consistent production of high quality, pest-free exports while maintaining sustainable farming practices.

Participants covered topics including : introduction and principles of IPDM ; setting pest thresholds ; identification of pests ; diseases and biological controls ; resistance management and practical pest management strategies ; field visits and practical sessions ; comprehensive action planning.

The wider impact of the training is expected to ripple throughout the organisation as trained staff pass on their knowledge to colleagues and farmers within the AAA Growers network.

By prioritising non-chemical methods, IPDM contributes to environmental sustainability, human health and cost savings by reducing reliance on expensive chemical solutions.

This initiative is an example of how to contribute in practice to sustainable agriculture. It is in line with COLEAD’s mission to strengthen the role of the agri-food sector in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

This activity is supported by the NExT Kenya (New Export Trade) programme, established in collaboration with the EU Delegation in Nairobi and Kenyan stakeholders. This publication receives financial support from the European Union. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.