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.
