In the sun-baked fields of Nakuru County, Kenya, I stood beneath a sprawling acacia tree, witnessing a scene that would stay with me for years to come. A third-generation farmer, his weathered face etched with lines of worry, broke down in tears as he recounted how counterfeit crop protection products had nearly cost him his entire livelihood. This once-proud farm, intended as a legacy for his youngest son, now teetered on the brink of financial ruin. Fifty workers had already been let go; their futures as uncertain as the crops that struggled to thrive in soil tainted by fake pesticides.
This heart-wrenching story is far from unique. Across Africa and the Middle East, farmers face an insidious threat that jeopardizes not only their individual livelihoods but also the food security of entire regions. According to the EU Intellectual Property Office1 and the United Nations2, a staggering 14 percent of plant protection products worldwide are illicit. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that the global trade in illegal pesticides generates between USD $6 to $10 billion annually. These are not just numbers; they represent countless stories of devastation similar to the Kenyan farmer’s plight.
Illicit agrochemicals pose a multifaceted threat to sustainable development. Unlike their legitimate counterparts, these products are untested and unregulated. They can render agricultural land infertile through soil degradation, lead to low yields and crop failures, and contaminate groundwater. The impact extends far beyond individual farms, jeopardizing entire communities and ecosystems.
The solution to this crisis is neither simple nor quick, but it is essential. We must adopt a multipronged approach to dismantle the illegal supply chains that bring these fake products to market. This requires collaboration between governments, industry leaders, and local communities. By working together to stop the manufacture and supply of counterfeit products before they reach farmers, we can restore
in the agricultural sector and ensure healthy crops for communities across the region.
As an industry leader, CropLife Africa Middle East – representing the leading global manufacturers of pesticides, biopesticides, seeds and biotechnology – is at the forefront of this battle. We work closely with authorities and stakeholders to identify and take action against those engaged in these unlawful activities. Our commitment goes beyond protecting our bottom line; it’s about safeguarding the health and safety of workers, farmers, their crops, and the environment. But we’re not stopping there. The recently created Anti-Illicit Trade Working Group, under CropLife Africa Middle East, brings together representatives from leading companies in the industry to coordinate our efforts against counterfeit and illicit trade of agrochemicals. This collaborative approach is crucial in addressing a problem that transcends borders and individual companies.
However, we face a significant challenge: counterfeiting remains a low-risk, high-reward crime. Current penalties, often limited to fines, are insufficient deterrents. We are calling for stricter laws with harsher sentences that reflect the serious nature of these crimes. After all, these counterfeit products directly threaten people’s health, global food security, and our shared environment. The path forward requires commitment from all sectors of society. Farmers must be educated about the risks of using illicit products and how to identify them. Consumers need to understand the importance of supporting legitimate agricultural practices. Governments must strengthen and enforce regulations, while also investing in the infrastructure needed to detect and prevent the spread of fake agrochemicals.
As we stand at this critical juncture, the choice is clear. We can allow the scourge of illicit pesticides to continue undermining food security and farmer livelihoods, or we can take decisive action. By choosing the latter, we not only protect our agricultural heritage but also secure a sustainable future for generations to come.
The farmer I met in Nakuru County, and countless others like him across Africa and the Middle East, are counting on us to make the right choice. Let us rise to this challenge, working together to ensure that every farmer has access to safe, effective, and genuine agricultural products. Only then can we truly cultivate a future of prosperity and food security for all. For more information on how you can join this fight, visit www.croplifeafrica.org. Together, we can turn the tide against illicit crop protection products and sow the seeds of a brighter agricultural future.
AUTHOR: Charl Langley, Corporate Security Manager: Africa Middle East at Syngenta and Member of CropLife Africa Middle East Anti-Illicit Trade Working Group.
