Agripest Organic 75 EC farmers’ new organic solution against common pests

By Caroline Mwendwa

WHEN FARMERS FACE pest challenges on their farms, they must act quickly to salvage the crop and prevent losses. Often, they will reach for a solution that they are familiar with, and one that they are sure to get immediate results from. Unbeknownst to them, the synthetic pesticide they are used to applying could pose high health risks to the consumers of the produce (often including their own families). Usually, there are application guidelines on how long a farmer must wait before harvesting the crop after applying the pesticide, yet some chemicals do not entirely break down, leaving toxic residues on the produce. In other cases, farmers fail to follow the required post-harvest intervals (PHIs), as they rush to secure immediate markets offering a higher return on their investment.

As a result, cancer cases are on the rise, and this has been linked to intensive use of synthetic chemicals in food production. On the other hand, misinformation about organic farming hinders farmers from adopting it. For example, most farmers believe, without even trying, that organic farm inputs are unavailable, unaffordable, and ineffective. Good news is that KAPI Ltd, a biopesticide manufacturing company based in Nakuru, is proving all these assumptions wrong.Farmers have discovered the efficacy of its products, which are no more expensive Agripest Organic 75 EC farmers’ new organic solution against common pests than conventional pesticides. The broad spectrum nature of their products makes it possible for farmers to spend less in production, increasing the quality of the produce whilst maintaining high yields. Through its newly developed product, Agripest Organic 75EC, a broad spectrum biopesticide which is highly effective and affordable even for the small-scale farmers, KAPI is changing the farming landscape for all farmers across the country.

Agripest Organic 75EC, is a game changer as it effectively manages common pests including Tuta absoluta, aphids, thrips, whiteflies and Diamondback Moth, without leaving any residues on the crop. Agripest Organic 75EC, is packaged in a range of small sizes, and retailed in most agrovets in all counties of Kenya. Farmers who have used it, find great relief in its efficacy in managing pests, affordability and accessibility within their local agrovets.

Farmer testimonials
Kennedy Kariuki, a farmer in Nyandarua County, grows organic tomatoes under an 8m by 15m shade net. “I was introduced to organic farming by Veronica Wamiti of Biovision Africa Trust in the year 2016, and I was keen to grow organic vegetables,” he says. Growing tomatoes organically requires preparedness, with the right biopesticides, as pests such as Tuta absoluta, can completely wipe out an entire investment. Luckily for Kariuki, he had encountered KAPI Ltd. staff at a farmer field day event, who introduced him to Agripest Organic 75EC.

“When I started growing tomatoes, I needed organic inputs that are undoubtedly effective, and just in the nearest agrovet in my hometown. I found out that KAPI products were available and at very affordable prices,” he recalls. Aware of the efficacy of Agripest Organic 75EC, on most of the pests that attack vegetables, Kariuki did not hesitate to purchase it. “At only Ksh160, I acquired 50 mls of Agripest Organic, and it was enough to manage the white flies that had started infesting my vegetable farm.” Never has he encountered Tuta absoluta in his farm, as he uses Agripest Organic 75EC. Looking around his garden, one can see bundles of healthy tomatoes dangling heavily on the stems. Kariuki sells his tomatoes through an online app, especially to markets in Nairobi. Danson Mwenda, a farmer from Biashara Ward in Nyandarua County, is an organic vegetable grower who supplies vegetables, including red cabbage, beetroots, white onions, spring onions, and potatoes to a supermarket in Naivasha town.

Mwenda, who had been practicing conventional farming there before, realized that he spent so much money on farm inputs, especially synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which ate into the little profits he was making.

Even worse is their effect on the soil. “It got to a point where the soil became highly acidic, and could not yield much without fertilizer application,” he says. It was at this point that he decided to transition to organic farming. “I have now been trained on compost making and use of biopesticides to manage pests,” says Mwenda, who fondly speaks of Agripest Organic 75EC. This biopesticide has become his companion in vegetable production.

“One outstanding advantage of Agripest Organic 75EC is its effectiveness in managing aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and Diamondback Moths, which are deadly pests that ravage vegetables,” he says, further explaining that a 50ml of Agripest organic biopesticide, goes for Ksh160, which is much less than the cost of synthetic pesticides. The dilution rate for Agripest Organic 75EC is 3mls per litre of water, so a 50ml bottle of Agripest Organic makes 16 Litres when mixed with water.Additionally, Agripest Organic 75EC has a postharvest interval of just 24 hours, so one can take one’s harvest to market, without having to wait for long periods, unlike many synthetic pesticides, which have PHIs of between 7-21 days.

Locally produced
The production of KAPI biopesticides is entirely local, as ingredients are sourced locally from farmers. Agripest Organic 75EC is made from the oil extracted from Croton nuts. Croton Megalocarpus is an indigenous tree in Kenya. “We have collaborated with EcoFix, a croton nut processor, to create a market for croton growers,” says Ian Shaw, the CEO of KAPI Ltd.

“This makes the product highly affordable, while creating incomes for local producers of croton. KAPI Ltd is committed to expanding the production of effective, and accessible biopesticides.”

“Currently, we have three products in the market: pyrethrum-based Flower Dust, croton-based Agripest Organic, and Neem and Karanja oil-based Biopest. All these products are certified by KilimoHai and EcoCert and are available at 1000 agrovets countrywide. We are still expanding to many more agrovets,” says Shaw.

Caroline Mwendwa is the Project Officer for TOF Magazine. Email: cmwendwa@biovisionafrica.org