The seventh CAC Africa Summit, a major trade platform for the global agrochemical industry, opened Monday in Nairobi with a focus on enhancing food security and boosting farm productivity across Africa.
The two-day summit, jointly organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Sub-Council of Chemical Industry (CCPIT CHEM), Kenya’s Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), and Egerton University, has attracted about 30 exhibitors, mostly from China, to showcase new agrochemicals, bio-pesticides, specialty fertilizers, and advanced farming equipment.
China-Africa Partnership in Agriculture
Jalen Fan, deputy director of Division 1 at CCPIT CHEM, said China’s collaboration with Africa in agriculture has become a model for South-South cooperation. “The conference is expected to introduce high-quality agricultural solutions that will contribute to bumper harvests and sustainable development of local agriculture,” he noted.
China, he added, continues to supply Africa with efficient, low-toxicity, and environmentally friendly crop protection technologies, leveraging its expertise in research, production, and application.
Kenya-China Technical Cooperation
Barasa Wanyonyi, head of the registration department at the PCPB, underlined China’s central role in Kenya’s agricultural sector. “China is the largest single contributor to Kenya’s pesticide portfolio, both in conventional and advanced products, which reflects strong technical cooperation between the two countries,” he said.
Regional and International Impact
Zhu Li, counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, described the summit as an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding and expand agricultural cooperation. “By bringing together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, researchers, and farmers’ representatives from China, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and other countries, we are laying the groundwork for stronger regional collaboration and closer international partnerships,” she said.
She added that Chinese pesticide supply has been crucial in boosting Kenya’s crop yields and food security.
Raphael John Mwezi, senior pesticides regulator at Tanzania’s Plant Health and Pesticides Authority, also noted that Chinese crop protection products are increasingly popular in Africa for being affordable and effective in pest management.
