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Protect crops using natural pest allies for sustainable pest control in Africa The biological control of insect pests with natural enemies is a crucial agricultural innovation, especially in regions like the Sahel in Africa. In the Sahel, the millet head miner and the invasive Fall Armyworm are major threats to food security, causing significant crop losses. This technology leverages natural enemies to combat these pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides, ensuring sustainable food production, and helping farmers protect their yields. It's an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach that contributes to food security and the well-being of farming communities.
Low-cost natural pest control "Biological control of the pod borer Maruca vitrata with exotic parasitoids" is of significant importance in addressing the extensive damage caused by this pest to cowpea crops. By introducing specific parasitic wasps from the World Vegetable Center labs in Taiwan, this approach has led to a remarkable reduction in the Maruca vitrata population, often exceeding 85%, in regions such as Benin and Burkina Faso. The collaboration between national agencies in releasing these parasitoids and their subsequent establishment on wild vegetation before moving to cowpea fields during the cropping season demonstrates the effectiveness of this biological control method. Furthermore, this technology is complemented by the use of resistant or tolerant cowpea varieties and the application of eco-friendly products like neem or other compatible biopesticides. These additional measures not only help combat companion pests like aphids and thrips but also significantly reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides, if not entirely replacing them. In essence, the biological control of the Maruca vitrata pod borer with exotic parasitoids represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to pest management, contributing to higher cowpea yields and food security while minimizing the ecological impact of chemical pesticides.