Pests

: 18 November 2016; Hits: 16712

Hermetic bag keeps off grain pests for over two years, averts losses

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A farmer using the hermetic bag s to store grains. The bag keeps off storage pests for over two years. PHOTO COURTESY,

Farmers can keep off grain destroying pests for two years without chemicals after the USAID Kenya and the Ministry of Agriculture launched hermetic bags, which suffocate any crop storage enemies.

The official launch follows years of testing for efficacy in taming maize, wheat, beans, cowpeas, among other grains destroying organisms such as weevils and moths.

According to the USAID Kenya, more than three million bags of maize will be saved annually if farmers adopt these of the bags.

This would translate to saving at least 270million kilogrammes of grains per year, therefore boosting food security and profits for agripreneurs.

"Hermetic storage technology provides safe, cost-effective storage solutions. Hermetic bags enable farmers to keep grain year-round, without pesticide application, for household consumption while providing the household with a marketable asset in case of emergency."

"Improved grain retention also generates smart income for farmers by giving them the opportunity to sell when market prices are more favorable," said USAID Economic Growth Chief Officer to Kenya Michael Nicholson.

Innovation in the insecticide sector has not marched the mutation of storage crop destroying agents. For instance the commonest weevil nick-named “Osama” by Kenyan farmers destroys tonnes of maize even with excess application of pesticides.

It starts from the fields into the stores.

Osama can 90kg bag of maize into ‘flour’ and shells in a few weeks after storage.

But since the hermetic bags are air-tight as a result of the polythene layer linings, any living organism on the maize suffocates to death a few hours after packaging.

The sack is tough, therefore, it does not allow for fresh invasion.

Besides, the bags eliminate chemical residue on grains.

World Food Programme approximates that post harvest loses stand at 40 per cent globally. This includes rotting due to rotting as a result of poor drying or storage facilities and destruction by pests.

The grains, for example maize, therefore, should be dried to attain a moisture content of 12 per cent to 14 per cent. Excess moisture leads to growth of aflatoxins, making the food unfit for consumption.

Speaking during the official launch of the bags this week, Ministry of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett said the sacks could help in dealing with hunger.

The sacks are sold with the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS), GrainPro-Super Grain, Zero Fly, Agro-Z, and Elite bags brand names.

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: 07 November 2016; Hits: 13183

JKUAT students find solution to tomato bacteria wilt

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Gidraf Mwangi holds a tomato fruit while Clinton Mwangi poses with a bottle of Eco-Wilt solution on November 4, 2016 during a tech expo at JKUAT Main Campus. Four students from JKUAT have come up with the organic solution to deal with bacteria wilt, which does not have chemical remedy. PHOTO BY LABAN ROBERT.

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) students have come up with a solution to the bacterial wilt disease that attacks crops in the Solanaceae family.

Eco-Wilt is an organic pesticide that protects roots of tomatoes, pepper, capsicum, potatoes, among other crop against the bacteria wilt microbes.

There is no chemical remedy against the bacteria, which invade and block the roots, therefore, hindering uptake of water and minerals for food synthesis.

Clinton Mwangi, one of the four students who worked on the project, said besides reducing the chemical application in control of pests and diseases, the organic solution eradicates the wilting menace that causes farmers ’total’ losses after an attack.

The students have carried out more than three tests, which have confirmed the effectiveness of Eco-Wilt against the bacteria.

Eco-Wilt is a solution containing a bacterium and a fungus species, which they could not disclose since they are yet to patent discovery. But the two isolated organisms are crop friendly and their presence suppresses the expression o the wilting type.

“The selected bacteria and fungi are drenched into the soil around the root system of crops in polythene bags or containers. The two organisms colonise the area by sticking to the roots, leaving no room for the bacteria wilt to attack,” Mwangi said.

For effective control of the wilt, the soil has to be sterilised first by ‘steaming’ to ensure that the colony of the wilting bacteria is reduced. Eco-Wilt’ fungus also keeps the population of the diseases causing bacteria low by also feeding on them.

Steamed soil can be enriched again to restore destroyed organisms ans nutrients.

Mwangi Gidraf, a partner in the project said while the roots feed the Eco-Wilt organisms with absorbed nutrients, they protect the roots against infection in a symbiotic relationship.

Application is by drenching the soil with one mililitre against one litres of water. Application should be done weekly to protect new roots.

The team is moving to large scale tests and registration of the organic pesticide before making it availing it for farmers.

The students, who participated in the JKUAT Innovation Expo 2016, are undertaking degree in the Agriculture Department.

Clinton can be reached on +254714011966 or Gidraf on +254721252864

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: 04 October 2016; Hits: 11104

Piglet teeth clipping stops mastitis

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Farmers can cut on sow mastitis treatment costs by clipping piglet teeth on the first day after birth.

Clipping involves ‘cutting’ or blunting of the eight teeth to get rid of the sharp pointed ends. Piglets are born with needlelike teeth, which can injure the udder of the mother during suckling.

“Wounds predispose the mothers to diseases like mastitis. With the wounds, the sow rejects the piglets by kicking them when they try to suckle because of the pain,” Bernard Nyaramba, a Kakamega County pig farmer.

Mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary glands resulting from entry of bacterial and other disease causing agents into the udder. Pathogens are picked from the environment.

Severe attack can lead to starvation and death of the piglets.

Besides the rejection from the sows, inflammation of the mammary glands means no production of milk, a condition known as agalactia.

Although treatment costs vary according to the intensity of the infection, lasting damage to the udder many not be reversed in severe cases.

At the same time, the pathogens may cause other infections to the piglets besides spreading to other sows in the sty. The piglets may also injure one another as they scramble for the teats. They use them as weapons.

“Front teas tend to have more milk, whose quantity drops to the rear ones. Piglets have a tendency of establishing ownership of teats. They use the sharp teeth to defend the teats against invasion from ‘siblings’,” Nyaramba said.

The process can be done by the farmer or a veterinarian. The bottom line is care should be taken to avoid injuring the gums.

PHOTO: Piglets suckling from their mother. Tooth clipping on the first day stops cases of sow mastitis. PHOTO BY www.resources.teachnet.ie.

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