Pests

: 25 May 2017; Hits: 7528

Internet ends bees varroa virus pest

A farmer checks honey combs. The internet can be used to tame varroa pests. Photo courtesy.

Apart from using the Internet in research, farmer can use this way of communication in controlling pests like bee varroa destructor mites by sending detector and action signals.

Varroa destructor mite can cause loses of between 44 per cent and 100 per cent if uncontrolled.

Domotele technologist Alfred Ahuta says sensors are placed in the hives. The sensors detect the invasion of the mites when the bees start ‘complaining’ by humming.

It is hard to examine the bees to identify the mites. But the sensors rely on the discomfort in the bees which stat humming upon realising the infestation, Ahuta said.

The sensor, which is connected by the internet to other devices, will trigger an action against the mites.

Various researches, especially in Japan have established that Varroa viruses do not survive in temperatures above 47⁰C. A connected cable to a solar panel on the roof of the hive or another source of power automatically turns on installed heaters. The heaters start gradually warming the hive to about 47⁰C.

A research by the Tufts University has established that mature been can withstand temperatures of up to 50⁰C.

“Bees are known to survive in hot temperatures, where the virus cannot. Although young bees cannot survive beyond 35⁰C, the adults will be cleansed off the virus for a new start. As the heat increases, the bees spread out. The pests in the honey combs are also killed,” he said.

More than 90 per cent of the mites are destroyed by the time the temperature reaches 45⁰C. The sensor starts the reverse process of cooling the hive again by sending a signal to the switch turning off the heat source automatically.

Varroa virus causes deformed wings in bees. The mites suck blood from the bees, and under heavy infestation, they can cause death of the entire colony or absconding for the survivors.

Deformed wings limit the mobility of the bee. When the bees no longer fly out, the honey making process is hampered.

The body temperature of bees ranges between 33⁰C and 35⁰C. During cold and brooding seasons, heater bees beat their wings to increase the temperatures of the hive. The body temperature can rise to 44⁰C at this time to counter the cold or cause hatching.

This process occurs with the intervention of anyone as the Internet of Things switches on and off the sensors and heaters.

Ahuta, who has worked in the US for a while, but is in Kenya, says farmers may not understand that bee hives are infested by the virus, causing migration or reduced harvests.

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: 12 May 2017; Hits: 16465

High yielding rust tolerant soy bean introduced into Kenya

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A farmer with soy beans seeds. A new soy beans variety resistant to rust has been introduced into Kenya. Photo by Daily Nation.

Soya beans farmers in Kenya can now harvest up to 1,600kg per hectare to bridge the demand gap with the SC Saga variety, which is also resistant to rust - a disease that reduce the country production by a third annually. In addtion, the SC saga variety has high oil content and pod clearance, larger seeds than ordinary types and is good for intercropping.

The variety, which was sourced from a Zimbabwe seed company by the International Crops Research Institute for Semi- Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), can be grown in any ecological region in the country though it tends to grow better in hot and humid climate.

This explains why farmers around the Lake region get more yields compared to those in the Rift Valley. Although Saga variety takes three months to mature - almost a month longer than other seasonal varieties likes Namsoy 4M, Nyala, Black Hawk and Gazelle - its high productivity and seed quality is worth waiting for.

Saga has high oil content hence is mostly preferred by commercial oil companies. In Kenya, their ids production deficiency of this type of soya, forcing Bidco Company to import from global biggest producers likes Argentina.
According a Vihiga based Agronomist Dick Morgan Ongai, Saga is good for intercropping since it has more and bigger nodules, hence best in nitrogen fixation. He added that with Saga, a farmer is assured of at least 75 per cent harvest if attacked by rust compared to earlier varieties which highly vulnerable to the disease which continues to spell doom for soya beans farmers across the globe.

ICRISAT estimates soya beans production to be 2000-5000 metric tonnes per year against domestic demand of 12,000 metric tonnes. In order to cut on importation costs, companies like Promidisor and Bidco are buying from local farmers at good rate of between Sh90-120 per kilo. Farmers are however supposed to be in a network to consolidate huge bulks since those companies only buy in tonnes.

Mwangaza farmers in Vihiga County are selling Sega seeds in both small and large quantities for Sh125 per kilo. Early booking is encouraged by contacting MFAGRO on 0724- 518 – 753 or send an email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Seeds are delivered at the buyer’s nearest town via bus courier services at an extra fee.

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: 02 May 2017; Hits: 10684

Covering maize with bags reduces bird invasion

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A maize cob devoured by birds. Covering the cobs with a paper cap prevents birds from destroying the crop. Photo by lagardenblog.com

Farmers, who target off season green maize market, may save up more than 10 per cent lost to birds lice crows by covering the cobs with paper bags.

Birds like crows may destroy up to 20 cobs in every 100 stalks when a farm of maze stands amid other crops.

Andrew Mwashighadi prefers growing maize when the other farmers are raising groundnuts, sunflower, simsim and other crops. The competition for the green maize, which is for roasting or boiling, is minimal.

“Birds are not stupid. They get used to the scarecrow after some time. Actually, with time, they can land on it as they spot the maize cob to attack. I have found covering the heads of the maize with the sack-like papers effective- crows look for the maize cob leaves and leave when they cannot find the milk,” the Mpeketoni farmer said.

In reducing attacks by other small birds that fed on kernels the farmers grows a few sunflowers along the edge of his one acre piece. This distracts the other birds from feeding on maize wince the sunflower is the ‘easier alternative’ when they cannot open the paper covering the ears.

Traders from Malindi and other Coastal town flock the Lamu County farming town in search of fresh maize to complement what they get from up country.

Birds feed on maize soon after pollination, when the cobs start filling. The kernels are tender, a stage commonly called the milk phase.

Crows and other birds moving from the nearby Boni Forest are a menace, and if uncontrolled, maize along the edges of the farms is lost, or reduced in quality as a result of the pecking.

Pecked maize is less attractive to the boiling and roasting market for urban consumers. With time, the affected parts also develop black abrasions that may habour mycotoxins from fungi. Mycotoxins may lead to food poisoning due to aflatoxins.

In about a month or so, before the kernels start hardening for drying, about 5,000 birds can cause up to 10 per cent in ordinary fields, according to the Purdue University Department of Agronomy.

This percentage is doubled when the maize field stands amid different crops.

The brown papers of are the same ones occasionally used in packaging retail sugar, although they are also used in carrying medication and other goods.

Covering the ears of the maize cob discourages the birds from peeling back the tacked ears to access the kernels or the maturing maize grains.

By just capping the maize cobs from the head, the birds get discouraged when they cannot access the ears.

off-season selling of maize sometimes may fetch about Sh8 for every cob. They also sell three pieces for Sh20.

Remaining exposed maize may also start germinating after maturity.

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