Overview
The "Extending the Push-Pull Technology for East African Smallholder Agriculture" project, led by the International Centre of Insect Physiology & Ecology (ICIPE), aimed to improve cereal crop production through integrated pest management strategies. The project, supported by Kilimo Trust, ran from August 2009 to June 2011 and focused on managing Striga weeds, soil fertility, and insect pests in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Key Objectives
- Develop New Technologies: Create legume-based and Push-Pull approaches for managing Striga, stemborer, and soil fertility in rice, millet, and sorghum.
- Sustainability: Ensure the long-term sustainability of Striga threat elimination programs.
- Manage Napier Stunt Disease: Develop integrated management strategies for Napier stunt disease.
- Cereal-Cotton Rotation: Determine the role of cotton in Striga control and develop cereal-cotton rotation systems.
Achievements
- Farmer Mobilization: Engaged over 40,600 farmers in adopting Push-Pull technology.
- Training and Capacity Building: Conducted numerous training sessions and field days to educate farmers on the technology.
- Market Linkages: Established partnerships with seed companies and agro-dealers to ensure the availability of Desmodium seeds.
- Research and Development: Identified drought-resistant Desmodium species and maize varieties with early herbivory defense responses.
- Disease Management: Developed diagnostic assays for Napier stunt disease and identified resistant Napier grass varieties.
Impact
- Economic Benefits: Increased cereal production, leading to higher incomes for smallholder farmers.
- Environmental Impact: Promoted soil health and biodiversity through sustainable farming practices.
- Social Equity: Improved food security and livelihoods for vulnerable groups, including women and children.
Lessons Learned
- Partnerships: Effective collaboration with various stakeholders, including farmers, research institutions, and private sector partners, is crucial.
- Technology Adoption: Tailored approaches are needed to address different farming conditions and challenges.
- Sustainability: Long-term success depends on continuous support and capacity building for farmers.