Biological Control of Sorghum and Millet Insect Pests with Natural Enemies

Protect crops using natural pest allies for sustainable pest control in Africa

Biological control of insect pests with natural enemies is applied in the field where the pests pose a threat. The natural enemies are released into these areas, where they naturally control the pest population by preying on them or parasitizing them. This method is particularly effective against pests like the Millet Head Miner and the Fall Armyworm. The use of this technology not only helps in reducing crop losses but also contributes to healthier ecosystems and improved food security. It’s a practical and environmentally sound solution to pest-related challenges in agriculture.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 7/9

Cost: $$$ 5,000 USD

establishment of parasitoïd colonies for 10,000 farmers

6,000 USD

per year for operation

3—4 USD

per "ready-to-use" bag

IP

Open source / open access

Problem

Pest Infestations and Food Security: Pests like the Millet Head Miner and Fall Armyworm often infest crops in Sub-Saharan Africa, leading to significant crop losses. This not only impacts the livelihoods of farmers but also poses a threat to the region’s food security.
Overuse of Chemical Pesticides and Ecosystem Health: The frequent use of chemical pesticides to control pests can lead to environmental pollution and harm non-target species, disrupting ecosystems. Additionally, these chemicals pose health risks for farmers and consumers, and pests may develop resistance over time.
Lack of Accessibility: Many farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to effective pest management solutions. They may not have the resources or knowledge to use chemical pesticides safely and effectively, leaving them vulnerable to pest infestations and the associated crop losses.

Solution

Parasitoid Wasp Predation: Introduction of the parasitoid wasp Habrobracon hebetor, which targets the caterpillar of the millet head miner.
Caterpillar Control with Parasitoid Wasp: Utilization of the parasitoid wasp Habrobracon hebetor, which attacks the caterpillar, preventing further damage to the seeds.
Preventing Severe Infestations: Implementation of biological control techniques, such as releasing natural enemies, to prevent severe infestations and reduce crop losses.
Stable Food Supply Assurance: By controlling the millet head miner population, this approach ensures a more stable and sufficient food supply, even in years with variable rainfall.
Fall Armyworm Parasitization: Recent work shows that the parasitoid wasp Telenomus remus is a promising biocontrol organism to prevent outbreaks of the Fall Armyworm as it parasitizes the eggs of the pest.

Key points to design your business plan

For farmers

Biological control is most effective when implemented on a larger scale, such as a neighborhood or community of farmers. This is because pests can easily migrate from untreated areas to those where biological control has been implemented. Therefore, it’s crucial for individual farmers to collaborate and coordinate with their neighbors when implementing biological control methods. This collective action can lead to more effective pest management, benefiting all farmers in the community. It’s not just about individual efforts, but about working together for a common goal: sustainable and effective pest management.

For an farmer interested in using biological control, here are the steps:

Education: Learn about biological control, its benefits, and how it works. This could involve attending workshops, training, reading materials, or consulting with agricultural experts.
Identify Pests: Identify the pests that are causing problems in your farm. This will help in determining the appropriate natural enemies to use.
Choose Natural Enemies: Choose the appropriate natural enemies for the identified pests. This could be parasitoids, predators, or pathogens.
Source Natural Enemies: Obtain the natural enemies from a reliable source. This could be a research institution or a local agricultural extension service.
Release Natural Enemies: Release the natural enemies into your farm at the appropriate time and place. The timing and method of release can vary depending on the type of natural enemy and the pest.
Monitor: Regularly monitor the pest population and the effectiveness of the biological control. This will help in determining if additional releases are needed or if adjustments need to be made.
Maintain: Maintain the habitat to support the natural enemies. This could involve practices like reducing pesticide use, providing food sources for the natural enemies, or creating shelter.

Remember, successful biological control requires patience and a commitment to sustainable farming practices. It may take time for the natural enemies to establish and reduce the pest population, but the long-term benefits can be significant.

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

With this technology, farmers can experience higher crop yields, leading to increased income and improved food security for their families.

The poor: Positive low

By reducing crop losses and improving yields through effective pest management, families can increase their food security and income.

Under 18: Positive low

This technology provides youth with valuable skills and potential employment opportunities in agriculture and pest management.

Women: Positive medium

Increased involvement in sustainable practices can enhance women economic contributions and leadership roles within communities.

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

This approach encourages crop diversity and rotation, which can enhance resilience against climate impacts.

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

By reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and promoting the use of natural predators, farmers can create more resilient agricultural systems that adapt better to changing climatic conditions.

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Promoting natural enemies helps maintain biodiversity within the agricultural ecosystem. A diverse ecosystem can better withstand pests and diseases, supporting more sustainable farming

Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released

Lowering the use of synthetic pesticides can reduce the carbon footprint associated with their production, transportation, and application.

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Using biological control methods can reduce chemical residues in food, promoting safer agricultural practices.

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

A diverse ecosystem supports better nutrient cycling, leading to healthier soils that can sustain crop growth over time.

Water use: A bit less water used

Healthier soils retain moisture better, reducing the need for irrigation and conserving water resources, which is crucial in areas prone to drought.

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested

Countries where the technology has been tested and adopted
Country	Tested	Adopted
Niger	–Not tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–Not tested	Adopted
Senegal	–Not tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–Not tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid	–	–
Humid	–	–

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Effective pest management helps increase food production, thereby improving food security and reducing hunger in vulnerable communities.

Goal 12: responsible production and consumption

Promoting biological control aligns with sustainable agriculture practices that minimize chemical inputs and encourage responsible resource use.

Goal 3: good health and well-being

Utilizing biological control reduces reliance on chemical pesticides, lowering health risks associated with pesticide exposure for farmers and consumers.

Goal 13: climate action

Biological control methods enhance resilience to climate change impacts by promoting sustainable farming practices that adapt to environmental changes.

Goal 15: life on land

By using natural predators, farmers help preserve and promote biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, contributing to ecosystem health.

Monitoring Pest and Natural Enemy Populations: Begin by monitoring the population levels of both the harmful insect pests (such as the Millet Head Miner and Fall Armyworm) and their natural enemies in your fields. This can be done using simple tools like traps and magnifying glasses, or more advanced methods like high-resolution cameras fitted onto drones for rapid surveillance of larger areas.
Rearing Parasitoid Wasps (Habrobracon hebetor): If the population of natural enemies becomes too low, it's essential to increase their numbers through rearing techniques. This can be achieved using a jute bag filled with 50 grams of millet grains, 30 grams of millet grain flour, and 25 larvae of the rice moth, along with two mated female parasitoid wasps. In about 8 days, these biocontrol agents will reach the adult stage. On average, one jute bag yields around 70 parasitoids in 10 days.
Release of Parasitoid Wasps (Habrobracon hebetor): Three jute bags containing the parasitoid wasps should be placed in the field, with one bag in the middle and the others at both ends, at the beginning of the heading stage of millet. This strategic placement ensures effective coverage.
Rearing Telenomus remus (for Fall Armyworm Control): For controlling Fall Armyworm, collect sorghum leaves that are infested by the eggs of the pest. Expose these leaves to a mated female wasp in plastic flasks for 2 days, using a ratio of 20 eggs to 1 wasp. The female T. remus produces approximately 200 adults.
Release of Telenomus remus (for Fall Armyworm Control): Release T. remus on farms from the windward side of the field. This ensures they are well-positioned to target and parasitize the eggs of the Fall Armyworm.