Maize crop invaded by fall Army-Worm. Kenya: New Bugs, Found in Kenya, Can Help to Control Major Maize Pests. Common Maize Diseases, Symptoms And Treatment. Infestation and damage by pests have been ranked as the third most important constraint upon maize production in semi-arid eastern Kenya after moisture stress and poor soil fertility (Songa et al., 2002). Stored-Product On-Farm Evaluation of Hermetic Technology Against Maize Storage Pests in Kenya Paddy Likhayo,1,2,3 Anani Y. Bruce,4 Kimondo Mutambuki,1 Tadele Tefera,5 and Jones Mueke2 1Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), PO Box 14733 - 00800, Nairobi, Kenya (paddy.likhayo@kalro.org; mutambukikimo@yahoo.com), 2Kenyatta University (KU), Department of … H517 : Rainfall of about 7501000mm: 30: Tolerant to foliar diseases and pests. A survey was conducted in 2014 to assess magnitudes of postharvest losses in on-farm maize storage systems in Kenya, and the contribution of rodents to the losses. As a result of the pest protection provided by the Bt gene, the GM maize outperformed conventional varieties three-fold per hectare, according to the post-harvest evaluation of […] Several species have been reported. He said maize variety which has been developed through biotechnology will not only help Kenya attain her food security challenges, but also manage losses resulting from stem-borer and other pests. The technology has been adopted by over 207,000 smallholder Elongated, concentric bicolored lesions start developing on margins of the leaves (Photo 14) around flowering time. Insects and weeds are bound to find such conditions very amenable to their own reproductive efforts. Maize (Zea mays L. ssp. Profitable maize farming in Kenya is becoming a reality for most farmers who are readily taking up new technologies to help them to drastically improve yield. As the pest continues to cause damage to farmers’ fields, CIMMYT trained national agricultural partners on integrated pest management. Two species of these parasitoids have been discovered by us and our colleagues in Kenya. Yield losses vary between 10-70%. Epub 2016 Jun 24. With an increasing world population to feed, a reduction of such losses can lead to substantial increases in food availability, particularly in the developing world (Boxall, 2001). MAIZE PESTS. Western Kenya, Elgeyo Marakwet, Coffee growing areas of Central Kenya and parts of Nyanza. Insects, rodents and moulds were Analysis - Insect pests, such as maize stemborers and fall armyworm, increasingly challenge food production around the world. Bt maize is expected to be commercialized by 2022 if it is approved by Kenya’s relevant government agencies, said Prof. Dorrington Ogoyi, chief executive officer of the country’s National … On-Farm Evaluation of Hermetic Technology Against Maize Storage Pests in Kenya. The FAO estimated the post-harvest loss for maize in Kenya due to storage pests to range between 8% and 10% (Food and Agriculture Organisation, 2014). Western Kenya, Elgeyo Marakwet, Coffee growing areas of Central Kenya and parts of Nyanza. Insecticidal dust to control grain storage pests (rice and maize weevils) Pyrethrum Board of Kenya Pyegar Pyrethrin + garlic extract Acaricide for control of red spider mites on flowers (roses) Juanco SPS Ltd: Pyerin EC Pyrethrin (75g/l) Aphids and whiteflies on flowers and vegetables Juanco SPS Ltd: Pylarvex 0.5 EC: Pyrethrins (0.5%) Akoth grows maize on 0.7 hectares in Homa Bay, western Kenya. 2: Sickle (left) and machete (middle) used for manual harvesting of maize; and stooks of maize in the field (right) In Kenya, six maize-growing agroecological zones have been identified (Hassan et al., 1998); these include, from east to west, the lowland tropics (LT) on the coast, followed by the dry mid-altitude- and dry transitional zones around Machakos (Fig. iii 3. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] Two species of insects that can fight major maize pests have been discovered in Kenya. New bugs found in Kenya could help control major maize pests Paul-andré Calatayud and Sevgan Subramanian, The Conversation Telenomus remus, egg parasitoids of Fall … Harvesting of maize is done by hands for small-scale maize farming in Kenya. Huge demands for crops have meant agricultural systems have simplified and frequently focused on single crops. During a sensitization workshop held at Kenya Sugar Research Institute in Kisumu, the county chiefs said the Bt maize planted earlier in Western Kenya under the National Performance Trials (NPT) has shown resistance to destructive stem-borer and fall armyworm pests. utilization regions in Kenya where the majority of the farmers prac-tice smallholder mixed farming. Scientists at the Nairobi-based International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe) have discovered ‘smart’ maize varieties that defend themselves from the destructive stemborer by summoning the natural enemies of the pest. Farmers are advised to grow maize varieties that do well in their agro-ecological regions as shown in the map. Fig. In the media 5 Oct 2020 Efforts in controlling maize disease boosting steady supply of certified seeds Gender aspects of managing pests in stored maize In Kenya and Malawi, women farmers who manage metal silos for storing maize have improved their standing in their communities and their self-esteem. For maize, threatening organisms are stem borers, nematodes, bacteria, viruses, fungi and weeds are some of the organisms that have a negative impact on the maize plant. I here present some of the organisms that inhabit maize fields in Kenya. Maize Farming Success Story. 6 months ago; 5 Minute(s) to read ; Insect pests, such asmaize stemborers and fall armyworm, increasingly challenge food production around the world. 2016 Aug;109(4):1943-50. doi: 10.1093/jee/tow134. Constraints for maize production include drought, low soil fertility, pests and diseases. Highland maize varieties are grown on some 40-50% of the total maize area, representing 600,000 - 800,000 Ha. Good management of maize through the production phases is important. A total of 630 farmers spread across six maize growing agro-ecological zones (AEZs) were interviewed. Low soil fertility, soil acidity, late land preparation and planting, poor weeding and even using the wrong planting methods can contribute to low maize yields. Kalro develops maize varieties that can withstand pests News By Antony Gitonga | 26th Jul, 2020 Scientists from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KARLO) farm in Naivasha. Pesticides were used against a range of pests including fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. 1. We meet 24 year old Babuh on his parents’ expansive 700 acre farm in Endebes town, Trans Nzoia County. The result of course represents unwanted pests to the farmer. These insect pests of maize cause damage to the plant and these cause stress to the plant. They have found to be efficient biological control agents against two major maize pests: the Cotesia typhae to control the maize stemborer, Sesamia nonagrioides, which has invaded France. J Econ Entomol. The counties also represent regions in western Kenya where the push–pull cropping system has been widely adopted by smallholder maize farmers for pest management. Maize stalks are cut using sickle and machete (panga) and stooked on farm (Fig. Stemborers: African maize stalkborer (Busseola fusca) Stemborers are the most important insect pests of maize in sub-Saharan Africa. Demonstration plots in Kenya show that genetically modified (GM) maize varieties are more effective in controlling insect attacks than their conventional counterparts — without the use of pesticides. mays) known in many countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric time The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels.Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable or starch. Push–pull technology is an intercropping strategy for controlling agricultural pests by using repellent "push" plants and trap "pull" plants. In the past, she stored her grain in a traditional granary: a structure built with mud, branches, and cow dung that allows free entry to the maize weevil and the larger grain borer, the two most damaging pests of stored maize in Africa. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a major invasive pest on maize, thrips (Thysanoptera), cutworms (various species in the Noctuidae) and whitefly (Aleyrodidae), on … The project also produces hermetic post-harvest bags in four African countries – Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe – which protect harvested grains from attack by destructive pests, such as the larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncatus) and the maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais). The Bt maize planted earlier in western Kenya is already showing resistance to the destructive stem borer and fall armyworm pests, which will help farmers reduce their use of pesticide sprays. The Bt maize planted earlier in western Kenya is already showing resistance to the destructive stem borer and fall armyworm pests, which will … farm maize storage systems in Kenya is limited. In sub-Saharan Africa, female-headed households tend to experience lower postharvest losses across all crops, mostly due to quick adoption of improved storage technologies. Follow the thumb images for additional images and information. Foliar (leaf) and stalk/ear rot diseases and stem-borers cause great losses in maize production in the humid transitional and high tropics of Kenya. In many African countries, the average maize yield per hectare is very low. At this stage, there are no apparent symptoms of fungal growth on the lesions. Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is the government parastatal whose responsibility is to assure the quality of agricultural inputs and produce to prevent adverse impacts on the economy, the environment and human health. Has an excellent husk cover. The importance of a species varies between regions, within a country or even the same eco-region of neighbouring countries. 2), or carried to the storage area. Two species of these parasitoids have been discovered by us and our colleagues in Kenya. Insects … The varieties have genetic markers which allow them to ‘call for help’ when attacked, attracting wasps- biological enemies of stemborers. They have found to be efficient biological control agents against two major maize pests: the Cotesia typhae to control the maize stemborer, Sesamia nonagrioides, which has invaded France. Maize is a major staple food crop grown in diverse agro-ecological zones and farming systems, ... insect-pests, and parasitic plants, and sub-optimal soil nitrogen have also presented a continuous challenge to cereal productivity in SSA. maize growing in hot, humid, lowland tropical areas, where it causes no economic damage.