Kenyan researchers introduce new cost-effective biopesticide to manage armyworms

By Agatha Ngotho

Researchers have introduced a cost-efficient, sustainable alternative technology to manage the fall armyworm.

Approximately 582 farmers in Machakos were trained to produce baculorvirus-based insecticides to manage the worm.

The training was conducted by researchers from the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International regional centre for Africa, during a farmer’s field event in Machakos county.

The team also conducted assessments to gauge the farmers’ proficiency in fall armyworm management through biopesticides.

The farmers were trained by, Violet Ochieng, a CABI research officer who has specilised in ISM-Drone technology, and research assistants Stacey Odunga and Maureen Njenga.

They said the fall armyworm is a destructive pest that poses a significant threat to food security and livelihoods.

The pest mainly affects maize, the main cash crop for millions of smallholder farmers in Africa.

It is also a threat to over 80 other plant species.

The researchers said farmers mainly rely on synthetic pesticides, which are expensive and are not able to eradicate the invasive pest.

"This inadequacy could stem from farmers’ limited purchasing capacity that has made them opt for cheaper products, lack of awareness about suitable options, difficulty in accessing effective products and a rise in resistance levels of pesticides,″ they said.

In addition, the researchers said the overuse of these chemicals could have adverse effects on food quality, the environment and food safety.

They said this could necessitate a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution.

Despite collective efforts from the government, scientific organisations, and academia to curb the spread and impact of the fall armyworm, there is a significant gap in farmers’ knowledge and management of the pest and effective management.

CABI Senior scientist Dr Ivan Rwomushana said in response to these challenges, they will assist farmers to adopt safer and sustainable approaches to boost their crop yields.

Rwomushana, who is also the Plant Health initiative project lead said the project also supports comprehensive training and also tests the efficacy of different pesticides.

This is with a key focus on Fawligen, which is a biological insecticide for the specific control of the larvae of the fall armyworm.

In July of this year, CABI established two experimental maize farms in Kitie and Itumbini villages in Machakos for research and training.

Rwomushana said the biopesticide will benefit farmers who cannot afford to purchase the commercial product every season.

He said a 100ml bottle of the biopesticide, which retails at Sh1, 500, should be applied in the early stages of maize growth.

The ratio of the mixture should be 100ml/ha in 250 litres of water or 8ml in 20 litres of water.

″Depending on the quantity ingested and the timing of virus ingestion, the larvae will die within a few days or during the next stages of their development,″ Rwomushana said.

″The advantage here is that farmers do not need to invest more money in restocking. They can collect infected larvae and produce their mixture. About 100 to 150 larvae should be crushed using a pestle and mortar and mixed in 20 litres of water for respraying."

He said naturally occurring pathogen is not only beneficial for the environment and human health but also represents a sustainable and cost-effective solution that most farmers can afford.