Pests

: 20 June 2018; Hits: 7162

Online portal offers information to control deadly maize disease

Farmers grappling with maize lethal necrosis disease can now control the disease through an online portal that provides up-to-date information and surveillance on how to stop it.

Maize Lethal Necrosis was first reported in Kenya in 2011 and has since then been reported in several countries in Eastern Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

The maize lethal necrosis disease has caused losses worth millions of dollars for farmers and seed companies in the affected regions in sub-Saharan Africa, where maize is both a food and cash crop.

It is also affects food consumers since farmers have no maize crop to release to the market. This therefore calls for urgent need to find a sustainable and widely applicable solution as key stakeholders,” said Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Agriculture ministry projects 44 per cent increase in maize production this year

Online platform links banana, potato and maize farmers to markets

The online portal, found at mln.cimmyt.org, details the spread of MLN, where the disease has been managed and controlled, and how to identify it in the field. It also provides key MLN publications, surveillance software, MLN incidence maps, and information on the MLN Screening Facility, and MLN-tolerant hybrids that are either released or in pipeline.

maize lethal

Maize affected by lethal necrosis disease

The MLN portal enables researchers to comprehensively assess the situation with regard to MLN, helps strengthen the national disease monitoring and diagnostic systems by providing faster and accurate data, and offers access to CIMMYT-offered MLN phenotyping services.

Some of notable symptoms of this virus in maize include mild severe mottling on the leaves, usually starting from the base of young leaves in the whorl and extending upwards towards the leaf tips.

Drying of thee leaf margins that progress to the mid-rib and eventually the entire leaf can also signify MLN attack.

Necrosis which is the drying of young leaves in the whorl before expansion, leading to a symptom known as “dead heart” and eventually plant death.

Maize production decreased by 6.3 per cent from 37.8m bags in 2016 to 35.4m bags in 2017 according to the 2018 economic survey report.

This was mainly attributed to drought experienced in most parts of the country which resulted in lower yields. During the period under review, maize imports increased more than eight fold to 1,328 thousand tonnes.

Write comment (0 Comments)

: 12 June 2018; Hits: 7556

Biological solution controls soil diseases boosting crop development

Dudutech Limited has released a biological solution for control of soil borne fungal diseases in a bid to promote environmentally and socially intelligent farming at a time when 14,300 Kenyans are dying annually due to soil, air and water pollution.

The solution, trichotech, contains spores of a soil dwelling fungi that prevents potential harmful microbes by a providing a barrier to combat disease causing fungi.

In this, the solution produces chemical metabolites, which inhibit various developmental stages of plant disease causing fungi in crops such as tomatoes and pepper.

According to Dudutech, the biological solution produces enzymes that enable the fungus to invade and parasitize plant pathogenic fungi.

This thus increases plant growth vigor by releasing locked nutrients from decaying organic matter; supplying nutrients to plant roots.

Fungicide spray that can help farmers control five field pests

Sex lure trap controls pest causing rejection of chilli in export markets

Trichotech is applied preventively – before diseases occur in the plants.

The application recommendations on plants vary depending on the target crop and method of application.

Trichotech 500ml

Trichotech, 500ml

In case of drip irrigation, apply 125g of trichotech per hectare. The biological solution is added into five liters of water and mixed thoroughly. The suspension is then added into a large tank and the volume increased to 1500 liters. It is then applied to plants using the drip system which ensures even distribution.

For drench application, prepare a suspension of trichotech at the rate of 125g/ha in five liters of water and mix thoroughly. Add the mixture into a large drenching container and make up the volume of water to adequately cover the target area. Pour into a watering can or sprayer/applicator and apply evenly onto the target area.

In dip application is recommended as a pre-transplant application for rooted plants or cuttings. Prepare a paste of 125g/ha trichotech in 20 liters of water. Place rooted transplants/cuttings in a perforated crate and dip roots into the paste. Plant the seedling as soon as they are dipped.

The biological solution should be stored in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight and may be stored for up to six months inn original unopened container marinated at eight to 12 degrees Celsius.

Real gross value added in the agricultural sector grew at a decelerated rate of 1.6 per cent from Sh879.6bn in 2016 to Sh893.3bn in 2017. This was occasioned by drought, pests and disease incidence which resulted in reduced crop and livestock production. Maize production declined from 37.8 million bags in 2016 to 35.4 million bags in 2017. Tea and coffee production decreased by 7.0 per cent and 11.5 per cent to 439.8 thousand tonnes and 40.8 thousand tonnes, respectively in 2017.

Dudutech can be reached on +254 704 491 120

Write comment (0 Comments)

: 06 June 2018; Hits: 8635

Coffee farmers staring at losses berry disease destroys crop in Mt. Kenya region

Coffee farmers in the Mt.Kenya region are staring at losses after their crops were affected by the berry disease, a fungal infection caused by cold weather conditions and bacterial blight disease.

The disease has been reported in Embu, Nyeri, Murang’a and Nyeri counties.

The coffee berry disease attacks young berries and can wipe out entire crops in the farm if not controlled.

According to Ndung’u Kamau, a farmer based in Nyeri, coffee berries in the region have started falling prematurely and this he says can lead to loss of more than 50 per cent of the total projected harvest for this season.

Food and beverage company plans to improve coffee farmers\' yields

Farmers ditch coffee for watermelon on quick returns

“It is actually the first time for this disease to attack our crops as previously it was only known to be centralized around farms in the Mt. Elgon area.

Farmers can control the disease by pruning their crops and spraying with copper oxychloride chemical that boosts the plants ability to resist diseases.

“I have used copper oxychloride chemical on my crops and it is effective by 80 per cent,” said Ndung’u.

coffee berry disease

Coffee berries affecteds by the disease. Photo: Courtesy

The Coffee Directorate of Kenya is currently training farmers in the region on how to control the disease.

This comes at a time when coffee production decreased by 11.5 per cent from 46.1 thousand tonnes in 2015/16 season to 40.8 thousand tonnes in 2016/17 season even though the area under coffee production increased by 700 hectares from 114.0 thousand hectares in 2015/16 to 114.7 thousand hectares in 2016/17.

The decline was attributable to cold and rainy weather conditions, the bi-modal production system where the crop takes time to recover in one year; and extended dry weather during picking which adversely affected coffee production according to the 2018 economic survey report.

Coffee production by co-operatives declined by 14 per cent from 30.8 thousand tonnes in 2015/16 to 26.5 thousand tonnes in 2016/17 season

The average yield for cooperatives and estates decreased by 16.3 and 10.3 per cent respectively in the 2016/17 crop year.

Kenya exports coffee to Germany (20 per cent), United States ( 17 per cent), Belgium (10 per cent) Sweden (eight per cent) and Finland (six per cent). Other export destinations include South Korea, Swirtzeland, France, United Kingdom and Canada.

Coffe from Kenya is used in the blending and specialty markets.

Write comment (0 Comments)