Pests

: 09 April 2019; Hits: 7458

Dudutech launches pest control NEMguard to boost yields without EU residue risk

Nairobi, Kenya: 9th April 2019: Dudutech has today announced the launch in Kenya of NEMguard® SC to control the country's most financially damaging crop pest with zero risk of triggering crop rejections by European Union importers on residues. NEMguard® SC is lethal to plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs), but has been classified as having no harmful effects on humans, animals, or the environment, which means it does not appear on the MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) list regulating ingredients growers can use on exported crops.

The commercial team at Dudutech is excited to announce the entry of NEMguard® SC (Soluble Concentrate) into the Kenyan crop protection arsenal in April 2019. By bringing this technology to Kenya, Dudutech aims to help farmers increase production through sustainable management of plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs), which are widely known as the most economically injurious crop pests. NEMguard® SC is a global player in crop protection, manufactured in the UK and has been proven to provide powerful smart defence against PPNs in countries around the world.

NEMguard® SC contains a powerful formulation of plant-based allicin and selected polysulphides, which are lethal to PPNs when they are absorbed but are safe to users. In 2008, NEMguard® SC was included on Annex I of EU directive 91/414/EEC since they do not cause any harmful effects on humans, animals, groundwater or the environment.

dudutech

As such, NEMguard® SC takes its position in pest management regimens as a safer alternative to the routinely used Class IV nematicides which are potentially harmful to crop workers and consumers alike. Furthermore, growers who export to the EU will benefit from using NEMguard® SC as the residues do not appear on the MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) list which regulates the active ingredients growers can use should they wish to export their crops.

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Nematodes are tiny unsegmented roundworms which grow up to 5 mm in length and move through the soil in a film of water. The most economically devastating species is the Root Knot nematode (Melodygene spp.), which reduces yield and quality by damaging the plant's root system, restricting the uptake of nutrients and water. According to Singh et al. (2015), PPNs cause annual global yield losses of 12.3 per cent equating to US$157bn.

According to the Horticultural Crop Directorate (HCD), Kenya's rapidly growing floriculture industry earned US$823m in 2017, up nearly 20 per cent from the previous year. By assuming 12.3 per cent yield losses, Kenya lost an estimated US$101m in potential export earnings due to PPNs from the floriculture industry alone.

flower export stats

According to Barnaba Rotich, Head of Commercial at Dudutech, "by registering NEMguard® SC in Kenya, Dudutechhas allowed farmers to strategically harness its benefits in their crop protection plan to improve their overall sustainability profile, output and the safety and quality of their produce." The potential for this product has for Kenyan farmers is significant, as it helps provide a safe and competitive option for nematode control on their crops.

"Although the product has been labelled for use on roses and french beans, Dudutech has expressed keen interest in extending the label to other key crops. Available data indicates that Nemguard effectively reduces populations of plant parasitic nematodes on Tomatoes and Carrots amongst other agricultural crops. NEMguard® SC also effectively reduces cabbage root fly in brassicas," - Jack Adundo, Technical Manager, Dudutech.

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: 08 April 2019; Hits: 6604

Government agency trains farmers on safe use of pesticides to ensure Kenya’s fruits and vegetables meets international market demands

The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) in collaboration with USAID Feed the Future Project last week conducted a three day training of 50 technical personnel from the horticulture industry on safe use of pesticides to ensure food safety.

The event consisted of theoretical and practical sessions that aimed at educating participants on Quality Management Systems (QMS) that aids in planning, assurance, control and improvement of systems to ensure food safety.

At the official opening, KEPHIS MD, Dr. Esther Kimani urged the stakeholders to produce the best agricultural produce to increase its demand in the international markets. She emphasized that market requirements are becoming more stringent and must be met.

“There are 196 blacklisted molecules in the EU which are 70 fungicides, 64 insecticides, 53 herbicides, 15 fumigants and 11 plant growth regulators that contain acephate, methamidophos, carbofuran, dimethoate, omethoate, chloropyrifos, dimefuron, fenthion, profenofos and carbendazim, said Benard Okonda, an Analytical Chemistry Laboratory analyst.

“Different markets have different standards; we are soon penetrating the US market and its standards will be communicated,”

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Trainees being taken through scouting for pests and diseases (left) and sampling for pesticide residue analysis (right). Photo/Kephis.org)
Participants were taken through the new market requirements to ensure compliance as new regulations were put in place since January 2018 due to the False Codling Moth (FCM).

According to Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA), the industry regulator, 17 out of 29 produce rejections at the European Union markets in 2017 were due to the False Codling Moth (FCM).

“The European Union is watching our trends in terms of pest management, while the Australian market requires no live insect on produce exported there,”said Debora Shituvi, a KEPHIS inspector.

Kenya, being a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, its fruits and vegetables must meet the minimum requirements such as being sound, intact, use of right labelling to enable traceability, rightly packed and free from harmful organisms to avoid interceptions, stringent measures on arrival to the international market and to ease pest management.

James Woto, from the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (ACL) emphasized that calibration is important as it ensures correct amount of pesticide is applied uniformly over the targeted area hence, preventing wastage and ensure that there is no residues in crops being sprayed which results to consumer protection. He noted that errors are brought about by worn out pumps or nozzles, improper cleaning methods, mishandling, uncalibrated pesticide spray equipment and lack of supervision and monitoring during spraying.

Linda Maina, also from the ACL took the trainees through the QMS which consists of quality planning, quality assurance, quality control and quality improvement. She noted that during documentation, a hierarchy consisting of manual, policy, procedures, work instructions and records should be noted. “This is important because it helps in improving processes, reducing waste, lowering costs, establishing a process based work approach, engaging staff, determining of customers and their requirements and setting organization’s direction.

In addition, the trainees were taken through the maximum Residue Limits (MRL) setting, testing and decisions on compliance which are based on the CODEX standards. A representative sample is obtained from a lot for analysis. The EU has placed Kenya on the radar as one of the countries with 10 per cent increased Maximum Residual Levels (MRLs), which are the set legal levels of concentration of pesticide residues in or on food.

The trainees were also taken through a practical session in Naivaisha where they learnt how to calibrate spraying equipment and speed used while spraying to ensure uniformity of pesticide applied. They also learnt about scouting for pests and diseases and sampling for pesticide residue analysis.

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: 04 April 2019; Hits: 5369

How to control roundworms in sheep and goats

Roundworms are parasites found in the large and small intestines of sheep and goats. They suppress body weight by up to three kilos.

The worms lay eggs that are passed out in droppings to develop into effective larvae on pasture.

Farmers can identify animals infected with roundworms through symptoms such as being dull, loss of appetite, swelling under the lower jaws, diarrhea, pale eyes and death in severe cases.

To control this, practice pasture rotation as this reduces re-infection. Also avoid communal watering sites and roadside grazing as they act as sources of infection.

If animals are fed indoors, keep them on a slatted floor. Construct feed and water troughs on the wall to avoid contamination. De-worm newly purchased animals 48 hours before bringing them into your farm.

Administer albendazole drug at the rate of 10mg/kilo body weight. Fendenbazole is given to the animals at the beginning of the dry season at the rate of eight milligrams for every kilo of the animal.

While administering drugs drench over the tongue for maximum drug availability especially in the morning before animals feed. In cases of resistance give two full doses at a 12hr interval and dose goats at 1.5 times the dose of sheep.

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Goats drinking water at a farm in Mwingi. Farmbiz Africa file

In the Coastal strip and lake regions eggs develop to infective larvae very rapidly but high temperatures kill them within a month. In this, treat all animals just before the rains and only treat sick animals. Tethering and moving animals to new sites every three to four days is effective rotation.

By controlling roundworms farmers will earn more income from their sheep and goats as the animals will increase weight by at least five kilos.

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