A primer on planting and managing ‘push-pull’ fields for stemborer and striga weed control in maize: a step by step guide for farmers

Abstract

Stemborers and striga weeds cause major losses to maize production throughout Africa. Maize yield losses due to stemborers can vary from 20-40%. Striga weeds infest 40% of the arable land in sub Saharan Africa, causing an annual crop loss of US$ 7 to 13 billion. Around the Lake Victoria basin, infestation by striga weed causes 30 to 100% loss in maize yield. Use of insecticides for stemborer control is not only expensive and harmful to the environment, but is also ineffective. Weeding for striga control is both time-consuming and labourintensive. The 'push-pull' habitat management approach for managing these two important pests -one an insect and the other a weed-was developed by ICIPE in partnership with several institutions: the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARl), the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and Kenya Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, and Rothamsted Research UK. Push-pull limits crop losses by stemborers and striga weeds. At the same time, it conserves soil and water while preserving biodiversity. The approach involves trapping stemborers on highly susceptible trap plants (the pull) and driving them away from the maize crop using repellant intercrops (the push). Plants which repel stemborers as well as inhibit striga weed have been identified. These plants also provide high quality feed for livestock, thereby increasing productivity of milk and meat. Over 2000 farmers in Kenya have confirmed in on-farm trials that push~pull results in a significant reduction in stemborer pests and striga infestation and leads to higher yields of maize. This handbook has been compiled to guide farmers and frontline extension staff on how to establish and manage a push-pull plot to control stemborers and striga weed. It is expected that the information herein will enhance adoption of the technology and increase maize and livestock productivity while conserving the environment. ICIPE and the authors of this handbook gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Gats by Charitable Foundation that has enabled us to develop and catalyse the dissemination of the 'push-pull' technology.