Low-dose pest control: Seed dressing of Seed with Fungicide and Insecticide

Pest control for optimum yields

The "Seed Dressing with Fungicide and Insecticide" technology consist to the application of chemical control agents to common bean seeds to combat fungal diseases like anthracnose and pests such as stem maggots that cause significant yield losses in Africa. It offers various seed dressing products, such as Syngenta’s APRON STAR®, which combines fungicides and insecticides to effectively control diseases and pests, leading to robust root development, uniform growth, and higher yields, especially in tropical regions with favorable conditions for fungal pathogens. This method utilizes a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach, offering enhanced protection and increased productivity for common bean crops. This adaptable and accessible technique doesn’t require specialized equipment and is easily implementable at both farms and factories, offering a widely adoptable solution to protect common bean crops against prevalent diseases and pests in various agricultural regions.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 8/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive medium

Under 18: Positive medium

Women: Positive high

Climate adaptability: Moderately adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Biodiversity: No impact on biodiversity

Carbon footprint: Same amount of carbon released

Environmental health: Does not improve environmental health

Soil quality: Does not affect soil health and fertility

Water use: Same amount of water used

Problem

Pervasive Yield Losses: African common beans are significantly affected by fungal diseases and insect pests like anthracnose, root rots, and stem maggots, leading to substantial yield losses.
Risk to Profitability: Infestations pose a significant risk to the profitability of improved crop varieties and the investments made by farmers in fertilizers.
Endangering Planting Material: Diseases and pests harbored by seeds endanger the integrity of planting material stocks, threatening the viability of future crops and risking widespread agricultural setbacks.
Threat of Crop Failure: Soil-borne diseases and insect pests pose a severe risk to common bean crops, leading to sparse plant density and even complete crop failure, exacerbating food insecurity and economic instability.

Solution

Prevention of Losses and Enhanced Production: Dressing common bean seeds with chemical control agents offers a cheap and environmentally friendly technology to prevent losses and enhance production.
Improved Seedling Emergence: The seed treatment approach results in better seedling emergence, strengthening the resistance of crop stands throughout the growing season.
Uniform Application of Control Agents: Seed dressing achieves a very high degree and efficiency of crop protection by guaranteeing uniform application of control agents, minimizing undesired effects on non-target organisms in soils and spillage of chemicals into water bodies.
Widely Adoptable Solution: The advantage of seed dressing lies in its simplicity and adaptability, as it doesn’t require specialized equipment and can be easily performed at farms and factories, making it a solution that can be widely adopted across different agricultural regions.

Key points to design your project

This technology tackles fungal diseases like anthracnose and pests such as stem maggots that cause significant yield losses in common bean. With a positive impact on climate, it's easily applicable in dispersed farming communities, especially benefiting women and young people. This contributes to reducing poverty, hunger, and improving overall well-being.

To integrate this technology into your project, create a list of project activities and prerequisites, including:

Identifying and developing effective pesticides for seed treatment to control diseases and insect pests,
Raising awareness with farmers about the benefits and availability of seed dressing pesticides,
Providing access to seed treatment for community-based and commercial seed multipliers, and by agro dealers and
Linking producers to financial support and markets.

- Estimate the quantity of pesticide needed for your project knowing that the chemicals alone cost US $0.5 to $1 for treating one or two kilograms of seed.

- As the technology is available in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda, Nigeria, Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon and Burundi, include the delivery cost to the project site and account for import clearance and duties if relevant.

Training is important because treating seed requires knowledge and skills to be performed properly and safely. A team of trainers could provide training and support during project installation. Include the cost for training and post-training support for using the technology.

Communication support for the technology should be developed (flyers, videos, radio broadcasts, etc.)

For better optimization of this technology, it is recommended to associate this technology with Climbing Bean with High Yield and N Fixation, Low-Cost Staking for Climbing Beans and Integrated Management of Insects, Diseases and Weeds.

To implement the technology in your country, you could collaborate with agricultural development institutes and seed multiplication companies.

0.5—1 USD

Fungicides and pesticides for 1-2 kg seed dressing

50 USD

Equipment for manual application

500 USD

Equipment for mechanized application for a small unit

2,000 USD

Equipment for mechanized application for a large unit

IP

Open source / open access

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

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Burundi	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Cameroon	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Malawi	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Mozambique	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
South Sudan	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Uganda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Zambia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–No ongoing testing	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	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.

Goal 1: no poverty

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 3: good health and well-being

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Goal 12: responsible production and consumption

Goal 13: climate action

Weighing of Bean Seeds: Weigh the bean seeds to ascertain the required chemical dosage.
Preparation of Chemical Formulas: Liquid formulas can be directly coated or diluted for use. Dry formulas, containing adhesives, are added directly to seeds.
Manual Seed Dressing: For smaller seed volumes, use common receptacles or manually treat seeds in plastic buckets or basins. Seeds can be sprayed with the solution on a polythene sheet.
Mechanical Seed Dressing: For larger seed volumes, utilize mixers, hoppers, or rotary drums powered by hand or motor.
Planting and Application: Following seed treatment, plant the common beans using recommended land preparation, spacing, and fertilizers in specific growing areas.