ZANZIBAR, Aug. 19 -- ZANZIBAR authorities have ordered local farmers to strictly follow expert guidance when using pesticides, warning that indiscriminate chemical use threatens public health and risks locking crops out of key commercial markets.

Minister for Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Anna Athanas Paul, told an agricultural workshop in Kizimbani that improper chemical application remains widespread, posing severe risks to consumers and farmland.

“Let us stop using pesticides without following expert guidance,” Paul said, adding that compliance is essential for farmers seeking to access higher-value markets and boost incomes.

She said some farmers continued to use agricultural chemicals contrary...