By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, June 08, 2026 -Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has called for urgent global action to eliminate hazardous agricultural chemicals, warning that farmers in developing countries continue to be exposed to products banned elsewhere due to health and environmental concerns.
Speaking during the opening of the World Farmers Organization (WFO) Annual Meeting 2026 in Nairobi on Monday, Kagwe urged governments, regulators and industry players to end what he described as double standards in the regulation and distribution of agricultural inputs.
The meeting, hosted in Kenya, has brought together agricultural leaders and stakeholders from across the world to discuss key challenges facing the global farming sector.
Kagwe said the continued use of chemicals prohibited in some countries but exported to others poses a significant threat to farmers' health, food systems and the environment.
"We must work together to eliminate hazardous agricultural chemicals and end the double standards that expose farmers in developing countries to products that have already been banned elsewhere because of their risks to human health and the environment," he said.
The Cabinet Secretary called for harmonised global standards, stronger regulatory frameworks and enhanced international cooperation to address the growing challenge of unsafe and counterfeit agricultural inputs.
He stressed that protecting farmers' health and wellbeing should remain central to agricultural policies, investments and innovation efforts worldwide.
The WFO Annual Meeting has brought together farmers' organisations, policymakers, development partners, researchers and agribusiness leaders from different regions of the world.
The forum provides a platform for participants to exchange experiences, discuss emerging challenges and explore solutions aimed at strengthening food systems and improving livelihoods.
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Kagwe said hosting the meeting gives Kenya an opportunity to deepen collaboration with international partners and showcase the country's agricultural transformation agenda.
The event was jointly presided over by Kagwe and World Farmers Organization President Arnold Puech d'Alissac, who highlighted the importance of global cooperation in addressing food security, climate change, market access and sustainable agricultural production.
Also present were leaders of the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), led by Board Chair Cornelly Serem and Acting Director-General Calistus Kundu, alongside representatives from farmer organisations and development agencies.
During the meeting, AFA showcased its work in regulating, developing and promoting scheduled crops through exhibitions highlighting agricultural value chains and market development initiatives.
The authority also presented interventions aimed at improving productivity, enhancing market access and helping farmers and agribusinesses comply with international standards to expand their presence in global markets.
The annual gathering comes as countries increasingly seek sustainable agricultural solutions amid growing concerns over climate change, food security and the safety of agricultural inputs.
Delegates are expected to hold discussions throughout the week on policies and innovations that can support resilient farming systems while protecting farmers, consumers and the environment.