Value chain players in Kenya, Benin and Zambia will benefit from a two- and half-year project, aimed at reducing use of harmful chemicals in agriculture, improve farm yields and also enhance marketing of fresh produce.

With an initial investment of Sh35.5 million by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), the project is intended to cut down on numerous rejections of the country's vegetables by the European market.

The project comes ahead of the new EU regulations of fresh produce that takes effect next month, and also considering that EU accounts for up to 80 percent of Kenyans fruit and vegetables sales including 42 percent of flower exports.

Speaking during the launch of the project dubbed Nature-based Microbial Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture Productivity in Sub Saharan Africa (NAMSSA), Senior Scientist, Research at CABI's regional centre for Africa in Nairobi Dr.