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Kichawi Kill: Striga Bioherbicide

Mitigating Africa’s worst pest threat to food security by revolutionizing crop protection with a biological and sustainable weed control alternative.

This technology is a selective biological herbicide that farmers apply as a seed coating to boost their crop yields. This groundbreaking innovation is one of the first bioherbicides to be commercialized worldwide. It uses strains of a specific Kenyan fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae, which have been selected for their ability to over-produce certain amino acids that kill Striga (witchweed) without harming maize. Normally, Fusarium oxysporum isn’t strong enough to protect crops from Striga. However, by choosing a strains that over-produces specific amino acids, the fungus can effectively reduce Striga infestation and restore crop yields. This is the first technology to combine the benefits of amino acid inhibition with fungal pathogens.

2

This technology is pre-validated.

9•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 9/9; level of use 8/9

3.1 USD

Retail prices to treat 2kg of maize seed (0.2 acre)

ROI: $$$ 42—56 %

Yield increased

Problem

  • Striga, an invasive parasitic weed, attacks the roots of staple crops like maize and sorghum, reducing crop yield by 20–100%.
  • 50 million hectares of croplands (40 million farms) in sub-Saharan Africa show Striga infestation, causing $9+ billion in crop loss annually.
  • Striga plants produce over 50,000 seeds per season, adding to the soil seed bank.
  • The seeds of striga can spread easily across farms and from one farm to the next through wind, human and animal traffic, and farming tools.

Solution

  • Kichawi Kill is a groundbreaking solution for managing Striga and other global weed problems.
  • Using this herbicide has resulted in a 42-56% increase in crop yields.
  • The approval of the fungi seed coating product has significantly reduced its cost and increased its shelf life.
  • This technology offers a safe, effective, and affordable alternative to traditional chemical herbicides.

Key points to design your business plan

This technology is beneficial for resellers and farmers

Resellers

Selling the Striga bioherbicide not only provides a valuable product but also fosters closer engagement with users while significantly reducing yield losses during maize cultivation.

To successfully navigate this market, you need to know where to source the bioherbicide in bulk, identify efficient transportation methods, and explore suitable storage facilities. As the technology is available in several countries, including Kenya, estimate the delivery cost to your country and account for import clearance and duties if relevant.

Your potential customer base includes small local retailers, development projects, producers, and producer cooperatives or associations.

For farmers, the technology is priced at 15.50 USD to treat 10 kg of maize seed, 7.25 USD for 5 kg, and 3.10 USD for 2 kg.

Establishing strong partnerships with Striga bioherbicide manufacturers and transportation providers is crucial.

Farmers

Using this Striga bioherbicide offers a safer and more environmentally sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, reducing exposure to harmful chemicals for agricultural workers while enhancing maize productivity.

Given its availability in Kenya, it is essential to factor in delivery expenses and possible import duties.

Regarding cost estimation, the technology is priced at 15.50 USD to treat 10 kg of maize seed, 7.25 USD for 5 kg, and 3.10 USD for 2 kg.

To maximize outcomes, it is advisable to combine this technology with other agricultural practices and to use improved maize variety.

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive high

Women: Positive medium

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Tested & adopted
Adopted
Tested
Testing ongoing
Egypt Equatorial Guinea Ethiopia Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burundi Burkina Faso Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Côte d’Ivoire Eritrea Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Cameroon Kenya Libya Liberia Madagascar Mali Malawi Morocco Mauritania Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Republic of the Congo Rwanda Zambia Senegal Sierra Leone Zimbabwe Somalia South Sudan Sudan South Africa Eswatini Tanzania Togo Tunisia Chad Uganda Western Sahara Central African Republic Lesotho
Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country Testing ongoing Tested Adopted
Cameroon – –
Ethiopia – –
Ghana – –
Kenya –
Nigeria – –
Uganda – –

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 Subtropic - warm Subtropic - cool Tropic - warm Tropic - cool
Arid – –
Semiarid – –
Subhumid – – – –
Humid – – – –

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

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

Sustainable Development Goal 1: no poverty
Goal 1: no poverty
Sustainable Development Goal 2: zero hunger
Goal 2: zero hunger
Sustainable Development Goal 5: gender equality
Goal 5: gender equality
Sustainable Development Goal 8: decent work and economic growth
Goal 8: decent work and economic growth
Sustainable Development Goal 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure
Goal 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure
Sustainable Development Goal 15: life on land
Goal 15: life on land
Sustainable Development Goal 17: partnerships for the goals
Goal 17: partnerships for the goals

Kichawi Kill is administered by:

  • Mix the product packet with a small quantity of water, add the farmers' seeds and mix for a couple of minutes until thoroughly coated.
  • The coating is allowed to dry in the shade for 15 minutes and then is ready to be planted.
  • The seed should be treated within 24 hours of use if possible.
  • Kichawi Kill is administered at planting.
  • The shelf life of an unopened packet is 3 months at room temperature, 6 months in a refrigerator, and a year in a freezer.
  • Kichawi Kill is compatible with most but not all fungicide seed treatments on certified seeds. Prior to use, check the maize or sorghum seed treatment with the Toothpick Company to confirm compatibility. 

Last updated on 28 November 2024

Toothpick Project, Toothpick Company Ltd.
 Claire Baker
Commodities
Maize Sorghum/Millet Rice
Sustainable Development Goals Details ›
Sustainable Development Goal 1: no poverty
Sustainable Development Goal 2: zero hunger
Sustainable Development Goal 5: gender equality
Sustainable Development Goal 8: decent work and economic growth
Sustainable Development Goal 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure
Sustainable Development Goal 15: life on land
Sustainable Development Goal 17: partnerships for the goals
+ 4 more
Category
Inputs
Subcategory
Herbicide
Value chain step
Production
Solution
Weed control
Tested/adopted in Details ›
Tested & adopted
Adopted
Tested
Testing ongoing
Where it can be used Details ›

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones.

Target groups
Farmers Seed companies
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Kichawi Kill: Striga Bioherbicide

https://e-catalogs.taat-africa.org/com/technologies/kichawi-kill-striga-bioherbicide

Last updated on 28 November 2024, printed on 3 December 2024

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