Preliminary four-year trials on flower farms in the Rift Valley indicate the fungicide has successfully controlled incidence of powdery mildew, rust and leafspot in ornamentals and other crops.

The flower industry is a major foreign currency earner for Kenya. Last year, exports to the EU alone topped the £67million mark.

In September, the Investment Promotion Centre said it would open a flower trading centre in France because of the popularity of flowers there.

Vasey Mwaja, chairman of the Agrochemical Association, said: "The industry is bringing in tested chemicals that have least effect on the users. This is one way to protect against toxicity." l

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