Machakos: The Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), in collaboration with the Korean government, is advancing efforts to address pest challenges through the development of innovative technologies and management practices. This initiative aims to assist farmers in reducing crop losses attributed to pests that have significantly affected yield, at times causing complete devastation.
According to Kenya News Agency, the rollout of the program was launched at the Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) meeting held in Katumani, Machakos. Dr. Zachary Kinyua, who oversees the Coordination of Research in Crop Health at KALRO, highlighted that pests, particularly migratory invasive insects like the Fall Armyworm (FAW), have led farmers to incur substantial costs in pesticide procurement and application. The program, titled ‘Development of Pest Monitoring and Ecofriendly Control Technologies for Africa,’ seeks to reduce the use of toxic chemicals by providing farmer-friendly and cost-effective pest management solutions.
Catherine Mwanzia, a seasoned maize farmer from Masii, recounted the challenges faced due to the fall armyworm, which has severely impacted local farms since 2017. She emphasized the financial constraints in purchasing pesticides and described reverting to traditional methods like using ash. After undergoing training in integrated pest management (IPM) and the push-pull technology, Mwanzia reported improved yields, recovering from four to ten bags of maize per acre.
Dr. Muo Kasina, Principal Investigator of the program at KALRO, mentioned the development of mechanisms for monitoring insect populations to mitigate their impact. He noted that farmers now rely heavily on pesticides for maize cultivation and outlined efforts to reduce pesticide use by employing biological controls such as fungi and parasitoids. The program also explores using climate data and prediction models to develop eco-friendly technologies like resistant maize varieties.
The five-year program, running from 2025 to 2029, aims to produce outputs like apps or products that inform farmers about pest activity and necessary interventions. Dr. Kasina also stressed the importance of bridging knowledge gaps in pest management and providing policymakers with reliable information-sharing platforms.
Kennedy Senagi from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) discussed building models based on data from farmers and experts to predict pest movements. These models will guide stakeholders in implementing timely interventions to combat pest spread.
Muthui Mutisya, Ward Agricultural Officer in Masii Ward, emphasized promoting good agricultural practices to enhance food production and income for farmers. He highlighted the cooperation with KALRO experts to combat emergent pests and the ongoing training initiatives for farmers.
The KALRO and KAFACI initiative focuses on discovering, developing, and piloting pest management innovations to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and promote sustainable agriculture, with a strong emphasis on biological control and habitat management.