Pest Control

By George Munene Through its Feed the Future global biotech potato partnership in Kenya and Nigeria the International Potato Center (CIP) is developing genetically engineered late blight-resistant potato varieties that will reduce farmer losses by 15 – 30 per cent and slush the current Sh1.8 billion annual cost in fungicides by at least 90%. In …

Researchers develop blight-resistant potato varieties for Kenya & Nigeria Read More »

By George Munene According to the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)– an international agricultural research institute–, the agricultural sector accounts for over 60 per cent of the global increase in antimicrobial use. This makes it a leading contributor to antimicrobial resistance (AMR)– an emerging global health threat. World Antimicrobial Awareness Week which is marked between …

Antimicrobial use in agriculture driving deadly global antimicrobial resistance Read More »

Small-scale farmers can maximise profits by reducing post-harvest losses to animals and other environmental agents. Having constant supply for the market through the year means sustained revenue flow, which would in turn shield farmers against low prices as they rush to sell their produce at throw-away prices for fear of post-harvest loss. Discussions from a …

Reducing losses after harvest can more than triple farmer earnings Read More »

Farmers can stop bees from migrating because of invasion of hives by painting stand posts with grease. Speaking when he visited bee keeping farmers in Nyamira North Sub-county, agricultural officer David Nduko Atuya said the grease controls crawling insect which invade beehive in search of food. “Sugar-loving ants move up into beehives in search of …

Greasing beehives helps keep them safe from crawling predators Read More »

By George Munene According to research published in the Journal of Science, researchers have developed a cheaper and natural source of pheromones, i.e, behavior-influencing perfumed chemicals that confuse insects and prevent them from mating. Currently, it costs Sh121,000 ($1000) to Sh423,640 ($3,500) to produce just one kilogram of artificial pheromones. By modifying plants to more …

Scientists make it cheaper to confuse & prevent crop pests Read More »

By George Munene Mixing in dried papaya and moringa leaves into chicken feed has helped Daniel Muketha bolster the immune system of his poultry doing away with antibiotics. The veteran poultry farmer who rears 700 Kenbro improved kienyeji and ornamental chicken, geese, turkey and pegions adviced: “I have been feeding crushed moringa and papaya leaves …

Tharaka Nithi poultry farmer abandons antibiotics for papaya & moringa mix Read More »

Integrated pest management practice is one of the most effective ways of controlling the invasion of the fall army worm (FAW), which is threatening food security in Kenya and Africa. The pest, which attacks more than 80 plants (food and non food) including maize, cotton, pear sorghum, rice, tomatoes, cucumber, pastures, onions, kales, spinaches, among …

Sexual trapping to mitigate fall armyworm menace Read More »