Work package title: WP 5 Farm trials to develop and promote effective use of botanical

pesticides

Lead partner: SAFIREInvolved partners: UZ, DARS, ICRAF, NRI-UOG

P. Sola and B. Mvumi

Objective

Farmer participatory rural appraisal (PRA) of commonly used pesticidal plant control strategies under farm conditions using standardised comparative methodologies

WP 5 Deliverables Simple protocols on the best way to use pesticidal plant materials,

giving clear statements of efficacy produced for farmers and NGOs.

At least two peer-reviewed journal articles on efficacy and persistence of pesticidal plant materials in on-farm PRAs.

Information sheets in local languages providing instructions for the safe and effective use of local pesticidal plants produced.

Programmes promoting the safe and effective use of pesticidal plants aired on radio and television.

Farmer and NGO workshops held to inform the wider community about the use of pesticidal plants.

Post-harvest uses

controlled trials will be carried out to evaluate different plant materials and application methods

the species, dose, application, commodity, intended use of grain (seed or food grain) will be decided in consultation with farmers.

Standard methods for sampling grain over the storage period and determining insect infestation, damage, and grain loss will be used and sampling will be carried out by scientific staff alongside farmers.

Assessments of grain characteristics such as tainting, discoloration, marketability will be evaluated in blind tests with farmers and in local markets

Experimental Design Three grains maize, sorghum, cowpeas as prioritised in respective country

Project will provide grain but farmers encouraged to provide own contribution relative to production level

Two sites per country x 5 sp x 6 reps (farmer grps)

Two treatment levels if necessary?

Treatments to include predominant farmer method

Treatment application at central point for standardisation

Sampling at loading and subsequently at 8 week intervals ≥ 40 wks

Sampling undertaken by trained personnel in consultation with farmers

Measurements Grain damage

Insect numbers & species

Grain moisture content

Samples to evaluated in blind tests by farmers

Parallel on-station experiments conducted with undergraduate students?

Trials to run over two consecutive storage seasons

Veg experimental design Pesticidal plants are used commonly to treat kitchen garden crops

including leafy, fruiting or root vegetables

Each country to prioritise key vegetable & the respective pests

Two sites per country

Target three community gardens per site

Dedicate part of the garden to the experiment

Project to provide inputs & farmers to be responsible for day-to-day management

What happens if there are no pests; do we introduce?

Measurements Number of infested plants

Pest numbers per plant

Weather conditions

Are farmers allowed to harvest the

vegetables? Frequency? Impact?

Veg experimental design

3 gardensx3 treatmentsx2vegetables per season for 2 seasons

Include commercial synthetic pesticide

Time frame four months Jul-Oct

Sampling done weekly

Veg characteristics evaluated with farmers

Greenhouse experiments conducted with undergraduate students??

Application method to depend on mode of action of botanical pesticide

Ectoparasite control

Field experiments will be carried out with plants identified through surveys in WP2 to determine potential value as acaricides with selected plants species by treating animals using indigenous techniques and with traditional plant preparation.

Process

Literature review ; what works, methods used WP2

Select sites

Feasibility assessment: participatory rural appraisal, ecological surveys / species mapping, grain/ livestock/vegetables assessment WP 2

Results from WP 3 and 4

Finalise research design

Start research in Jul

Site selection

High agricultural yield potential Some known use of plants as pesticide Reasonable livestock stocking Areas where agriculture is the main source of

livelihood Varied ecosystems/vegetation ecoregions