Pests

: 22 January 2019; Hits: 6928

Dudutech cutting edge pest controls now available in Tanzania

Growers in Tanzania can now benefit from a range of Dudutech’s biological pest control products. The portfolio approved by Tanzanian authorities includes beneficial mites and fungi used to sustainably protect crops against Thrips, red spider mites and root knot nematodes. The products, traded as BEAUVITECH, MYTECH and PHYTOTECH, enable flower and vegetable growers to harness nature to protect their crops in a sustainable, environmentally intelligent way.

These solutions were specially designed and developed under a “by growers for growers” mantra to provide farmer-focussed alternative approach to crop protection. In the past, farmers relied heavily on chemical pest controls which are potentially harmful to the environment, people and long term economic viability of agribusinesses.

Thrips, red spider mites and nematodes can be difficult to effectively manage using chemicals alone. This is due to a confluence of problems compounding challenges such as resistance management, market restrictions, non-target effects and safety restrictions. When these issues arise, farmers suffer lower productivity, reduced plant quality and increased costs. Using biocontrols addresses each of these while protecting the long term future of growing and selling crops.

PHYTOTECH, one of Dudutech’s flagship biocontrol products, deploys specially reared beneficial mites called Phytoseiulus persimilis, powerful natural predators which actively hunt and feed on red spider mites including their eggs, nymphs and adults. PHYTOTECH is safe to use and does not face natural resistance issues, unlike many routinely used chemical controls.

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BEAUVITECH contains spores of a specially developed entomopathogenic (insect-killing) fungus called Beauveria bassiana which naturally targets Thrips in vegetables and flowers. When the spores come into contact with the target, they attach and penetrate the insect before feeding on internal tissue, killing the pest. Spores then emerge from the cadaver, ready to attack a new host. The formulation was designed to allow farmers to apply the product and safely interact with the crop immediately after spraying.

MYTECH contains formulated spores of Paecilomyces lilacinus, a nematophagous fungus which traps and digests root knot nematode adults, juveniles and eggs in the soil. MYTECH spores attach to a target nematode then form mycelia to trap it before invading and feeding on the host. The spores then emerge to continue the lifecycle on a fresh host. MYTECH is applied to the growing medium using drip irrigation or spray equipment to allow the fungal colonies to easily spread through the soil to infested regions in the crop. Chemical controls for root knot and other pest nematodes often harm beneficial non-target macro and microorganisms living in the soil around the crop roots. By using MYTECH growers can manage root knot nematodes without damaging the natural soil biome which crop plants rely on.

Livingstone Chepukel, Dudutech East Africa Sales Manager: “Tanzania’s agriculture sector is large and growing but farmers face major challenges in sustainably protecting their crops against pests and diseases which ultimately impact on access to external markets and their bottom line. Dudutech’s entry into the market is an important step forward in securing the long term future of the agriculture industry in Tanzania.”

For more information on these products and how to buy them, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or +254 50 20 20 859

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: 10 January 2019; Hits: 16804

How to control aphids and leaf miner in kales

Florence Anyona, a kale farmer in Kisii cannot sell her crop due to infestation by aphids and leaf miners which have reduced the quality of her produce.

She has sold nothing since the produce was infested two months ago.

“Initially, I use to sell between one to two bags at Kisii market weekly at Sh1200 per bag but currently three quarters of the farm has been affected leaving me short of supply,” said Anyona.

Anyona, a technical officer at the Ministry of Agriculture started kale farming in July 2018 after buying a quarter acre piece of land in her rural home from her savings.

She bought kale cuttings at Kisii market at two shillings per cutting before planting them in the farm after applying cow and chicken manure at the rate of one handful per hole.

We delve onto how to solve the problem to help farmers like Anyona and many others who are into kale farming.

Aphids and leaf miners are pests that may cause 100 per cent yield losses in kales.

Aphids are pests that drill into the leaves of crops. They suck the sap with the nutrients, causing severe produce losses due to unhealthy crops while leaf miners are small insects which feed between the surfaces of the leaves.

The leaves curl because of the heavy infestation from the underside. This condition reduces the surface area for photosynthesis, the food making process in plants.

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Aphids atack on kales. Courtesy
Because of the extraction of the nutrient-rich sap, some leaves turn yellow due to malnourishment, which also reduces photosynthesis resulting from the absence of the green pigment. This in turn affects the overall production of the crop.

Presence of aphids on kales can be checked by looking at the lower leaves where you will see black sooty mould.

Since aphids feed on the underside of leaves, chemical control is not effective. Research by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization reveals that the pest can be controlled by intercropping kales with onions, coriander and garlic or spider plant.

Onion’s smell for instance repels aphids while crop rotation with non-victim crops like coriander breaks the life cycle of the pest.

Farmers can spot leaf miners by presence of moths and larva on the leaves.

Leaf miners can be controlled by rotating kales with non-host crops such as maize, beans and cabbages.

To control it, remove and burn all crop residues or bury infested leaves and fruits 60cm deep.

They can also be controlled directly by spraying with spinetoram chemical at the rate of 18 to 30ml per 20 liters of water. A 250ml package costs Sh250 in agrovets.

According to the Agrochemical Association of Kenya, pests lead to losses of between 40 to 100 per cent in crops in Kenya annually.

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: 04 December 2018; Hits: 12896

KALRO launches eight new maize varieties resistant to the lethal necrosis viral disease

maize crop

A maize breeder and researcher from KARLO view the new maize hybrid that is resistant to the Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) viral disease. Photo courtesy.

The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) has launched eight new maize varieties that are resistant to Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND) which has been wiping out maize plantations especially in the South and North Rift, the bread baskets of the country.

According to James Karanja, KALRO plant breeder, the hybrids have been tested and will fix the problem in counties still facing the crisis such as Bomet.

In Africa, the disease was first reported in Kenya, (South Rift Valley, Bomet and Naivasha districts) in September 2011-FAO’s Food Security and Nutrition Working Group. According to the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture, two percent of the maize harvest in the region was affected in 2012.

“At household level for smallholder farmers the impact is significant as they can lose their whole production when affected,” said Karanja.

Seed companies have started certification and licensing. Farmers will, therefore, wait for about two years before they are rolled out.

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Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND)

MLND is a result of a combination of two viruses, the Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMoV) and any of the cereal viruses in the Potyviridae group, like the Sugarcane Mosaic Virus (SCMV), Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV) or Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus (MDMV). The double infection of the two viruses gives rise to what is known as MLND, also referred to as Corn Lethal Necrosis (CLN).

Maize makes up a large part of the diet in East Africa region with the consumption per person varying with the highest rate of 103kg per person in Kenya meaning the effect of the disease can lead to food insecurity and malnutrition among many.

KALRO researchers have also come up with 20 hybrids that are drought-tolerant and can double production.

“The hybrids can produce up to eight tonnes per acre, compared to the old varieties’ three tonnes,” said Karanja during a field day for seed firms in KALRO farm, Naivasha.

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