The policy and entomology research link with reference to crop pollination in Kenya

In Kenya, the agricultural sector is the backbone of the economy, contributing approximately 33% of the gross domestic product and employing 70% of the rural population. The country’s Vision 2030 clearly defines the framework and policy directions towards achieving the vision of a food-secure and prosperous nation’. Majority of the crops grown in Kenya depend on wild pollinators, mostly insects. The country hosts a rich diversity of wild insect pollinators, including 12 species of stingless bees, over 250 other bee species, 903 species of butterflies, over 174 species of hoverflies and hundreds of other insect pollinator species. Significant insect pollinator loss has been documented over time across various parts of the world. In Kenya, formal agricultural research including agricultural entomology dates back to 1903 with the insect research majorly focusing on insect pests. Much as the insect pollinators are crucial to the agricultural systems in Kenya, little information exists on their status in the diverse ecosystems in the country. Based on the current world decline in insect pollinators, Kenya is focusing on scientific research to provide data to support policies relevant to the protection of insect pollinators. Some of the research initiatives and policy developments towards improving the conservation of insect pollinators for crop productivity in the agricultural landscapes and other ecological services in Kenya are outlined in this presentation.