Officials from the Nakuru County Department of Agriculture participated in a stakeholders’ consultation and feedback workshop on Kenya Standard 1758 (KS 1758), a national code of practice for the horticulture sector.

The standard provides sanitary and safety guidelines for the production, handling, and marketing of flowers, ornamentals, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. Its goal is to ensure the availability of high-quality, safe produce for local and export markets.

The workshop was convened by the Agricultural Food Authority – Horticultural Crops Directorate (AFA-HCD) in collaboration with the Standard Implementation Committee (SIC) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). The session brought together key players in the horticulture industry to assess the progress and gather views on the implementation of KS 1758.

Participants discussed the importance of adopting the standard at the grassroots level. Stakeholders stressed the need for proper training and enforcement to promote food safety across all horticultural crops. They also noted that applying the standard in food crop farming is essential for meeting both domestic and international market requirements.

The input gathered during the session will guide the future review and rollout of KS 1758 in counties across Kenya.

The Nakuru County Department of Agriculture remains committed to working with relevant agencies to ensure that producers, traders, and consumers benefit from safer food systems and improved compliance with national and global standards.