Pests

: 23 October 2019; Hits: 6065

Agricultural industry alliance supports government's new pesticide legislation

pesticide on maize

An alliance of agricultural growers' organisations has today announced its support for proposed government legislation updating the Kenyan regime for the approval and use of pesticides.

The Agrochemicals Association of Kenya (AAK), Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), Cereal Growers Association, and Veterinary Inputs Suppliers Association of Kenya today announced their support for the updating of the pesticide control regime, which they termed the most rigorous in Africa.

"The new legislation, spanning a new Pesticides Bill and seven new regulations, will further strengthen Kenya's rigorous pesticide control, which already prevents any pesticide from being sold in Kenya that has been banned as a health hazard or pollutant under the international Rotterdam or Stockholm Conventions, to which Kenya is a signatory," said Mr Eric Kimunguyi, CEO of AAK.

The new legislation will create an independent Pesticide Control Products Authority; upgrade the qualifications needed to run businesses and premises handling pesticides; make pesticide stock records compulsory; and move the labelling on pesticides sold in Kenya to the global system of hazard warnings, called the Global Harmonised System of Hazard Warnings.

RELATED NEWS: Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides

The bill also recognises county governments and spells out counties' responsibilities in training farmers in the responsible use (RU) of pesticides.

Where a pesticide is already registered and new scientific evidence emerges that prompts a ban by any one country or regulator, the existing PCP Act automatically triggers a local review and re-registration procedure in Kenya. The outcome from that review is then based on the strength of the scientific evidence.

"However, if scientific evidence is strong enough to prompt a ban under the global conventions governing dangerous chemicals, Kenya will automatically ban the product and issue a phase-out plan," said Mr Kimunguyi.

AAK, which represents the pesticide industry, is due to engage with regulators on the updating of the PCP legislation together with agricultural growers including the FPC.

"Pesticides are critical to our food production, with Fall Army Worm last year destroying 70 per cent of our maize production in the absence of a pesticide regime, and international research showing that pesticides increase food production by an average 40 per cent," said Mr Okisegere Ojepat, CEO of FPC. "But while such aides are essential to food production, we must also ensure human health and environmental integrity at all times."

The new regulations are currently being assessed for their impact ahead of public participation in their final amendments. "The urgent matter is to now complete the legislative process and move swiftly to a fully updated expert regulatory regime that will continue to ban pesticides in Kenya that have been internationally banned on health grounds," said Mr Kimunguyi.

Caption: Trans Nzoia Deputy Governor Stanley Tarus sprays pesticide on maize plants at a farm in Namanjalala, Trans Nzoia. Photo: nation.co.ke

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: 26 September 2019; Hits: 7825

Busia sorghum farmer records extra yields after using natural pesticides

tephrosia plant

Joseph Wabwire, a sorghum farmer in Busia who decided to change from using synthetic pesticides to natural pesticides pest control method is now recording six bags extra per acre out of his three acres land thanks to the help from colleagues and personal research efforts.

Three years back, the farmer relied heavily on synthetic pesticide-Reldan 40EC to get rid of Aphids and caterpillars. It was effective pesticide but the major down side is that the Aphids adapted to it and this would mean he was to increase on the dosage for his sorghum or get a stronger pesticide. This turned out to be expensive for him.

“I used to get 59-60 bags of 90 kilos on an acre while I was using the synthetic pesticides but now I get 66 bags per acre,” says Wabwire, “this increase in the number of bags has really helped in increasing my income,” he adds.

He is now using an extract from tephrosia plant that grows naturally in the area and are mostly assumed to be weeds to make his home-made pesticide.

Through his online research and consultation with other farmers in the area Wabwire decided to use the plant because unlike Mexican marigold and Lonchocarpus which are also effective tephrosia is readily available in his farm.+

“At first I was afraid of just using a natural product that I had only heard about, since if it did not work out, it would mean I would have made a very big loss and if worked this would be the new way for me,” he says.

How to prepare the natural pesticide

First, pick tephrosia leaves must be dried in shade as this will preserve the strength of their chemical content. The dried leaves are then ground and mixed with water to for the first solution.

Grind 500 grams of chili, boil it and let it cool. Then 30 grams of laundry soap is added to solution and let for some time dissolve.

The two solutions are then mixed to make a pesticide which can be sprayed on crops to control aphids, and caterpillars.

“Such a solution normally stays for two days, meaning I make it on need basis since I don’t want to use any form of preservatives. I normally spray the sorghum once a week. Using this kind of pesticide is really affordable, since I get the raw materials directly from my farm,” says Wabwire.

He has seen a lot of change in the quality of the sorghum ever since he started using this form of pesticide. Some of the benefits are better and healthier plants “my produce is healthy, the soil fertility of my farm has improved and I have an increase in the number of 90Kg bags from every acre of land,” he continues.

Wabwire admits that before he started using the natural pesticide he would get roughly Sh800, 000 but when he started using it his proceeds have increased to Sh1.2m per growing season.

“Another benefit of using this pesticide is that as compared to the synthetic pesticides that end up having residue which at times makes crop produce to be rejected, the tephrosia pesticide does not leave residue on the crop produce,” Wabwire adds. “I would like to urge farmers to take up this form of pest control since; it is cheap and good for the environment”.

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: 20 September 2019; Hits: 6686

Grafting purple with yellow passion controls nematode attacks

passion fruit farming

Farmers who plant a grafted purple passion with yellow passion rootstock have high chances of preventing nematodes from attacking their crops hence improving their harvests and income.

“Purple passion is mostly affected by nematodes which are soil inhabitants that cause yellowing of leaves, stunting and eventual wilting of the affected plants. This is why we use yellow passion as the rootstock which is more tolerant to nematodes,” said David Gitonga, an agronomist at Oxfarm, a company that deals with selling of seedlings of all types of fruit trees, management of various farms and organic farming among others.

Gitonga says that there is a need to educate farmers on how to maximize on purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) production because it is the preferred variety in various markets both local and international.

“Despite the fact that many farmers prefer cultivating this variety, they are yet to know how they can, from the onset, prevent the fruit from the risks of pests and diseases attacks. The Perennial climbing vine is loved by most growers as it is good for fresh market and Juice extraction for local and export markets,” said Gitonga.

According to the National Farmers Information Service (NAFIS), purple passion is the most important in fruit juice industry as it can be used to extract the pulp and juice besides being eaten fresh indicating a wider range of application that translates to a wider market reach for growers.

In addition, a wide range of cosmetic products and food flavours are derived from the fruit as the fruits are rich in vitamins A and C and carotene making it an important food.

However, though commercial farming of purple passion fruit begun in Kenya in 1933, farmers especially, smallholders are still devastated by easily-spread pests and diseases such as nematodes.

How to graft the two varieties

First, seedling rootstocks of yellow passion fruit are grown until they are at least 50cm high and 3-4mm thick.

Then healthy seedlings with dark green leaves are selected for grafting.

Scions from healthy high yielding true-to-type vines of purple passion fruit are collected preferably when the plants have flowered. Scion mother plants should be raised in areas protected against sucking insects, to reduce incidences of disease.

Seedling propagators should not that sterilization of grafting equipment between grafts must be practiced (use jik).

“Apart from sterilization, we recommend the two methods of grafting that can be used. These are cleft (most common) and splice,” said Gitonga.

Gitonga can be reached through 0706222888

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