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In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans. According to some studies, glyphosate has been detected in the blood and urine of agricultural workers, indicating absorption, and in other reports the weed killer and its formulations induced DNA and chromosomal damage in humans and animal cells.
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In Kenya, agronomists and coffee marketing agents have raised the red flag over the use of harmful weed killers that are used on coffee, tea and sugarcane farms.
“The country risks losing international markets for some of its cash crops due to continued use of such herbicides as 2,4-D and Roundup, believed to cause life-threatening diseases like cancer,” said Kamau Kuria, the managing director of Coffee Management Services Mills.
NDIO HII PUNCHLINE SASA.
However, the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) has ruled out any intentions to ban glyphosate based products.
“We are monitoring the debate going on globally, but as far as we are concerned glyphosate will continue to be available for use by farmers in Kenya because there is no scientific proof it causes cancer,” said Peter Opiyo, PCPB chief executive.
In Kenya, there are over 70 products registered containing glyphosate, out of 1,540 products approved for various uses in crop production. Based on the import permits and data for the past two years, about 2.6 million kilogrammes of glyphosate-based products are imported into the country annually.
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