Abstract: Eco-friendly pest control options are highly needed in food crop production systems to mitigate the hazards of synthetic chemical pesticides. Entomopathogenic fungal biopesticides—Metarhizium anisopliae strains ICIPE 20 (oil-formulation containing 1.0 × 109 conidia/mL) and ICIPE 69 (commercialized biopesticide known as Mazao Campaign®)—were evaluated against Tuta absoluta on tomato through inundative foliar spray and compared with the commonly used pesticide Dudu Acelamectin ...
Abstract: One Health (OH) has gained considerable prominence since the beginning of the 21st century, among others, driven by the recent epidemics and the increasing importance of zoonotic diseases. Yet, despite the holistic and multidimensional nature of OH, to date, most emphasis has been on the interactions between animal and human health, with considerably less attention to environmental and plant health. However, there is growing evidence that the challenges of climate change, growing f...
Abstract: Mango is an important fruit crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Zambia, due to its nutritional value and contribution to food security. However, the invasive and mango-infesting fruit fly is a significant constraint in mango production. Therefore, icipe and partners developed and disseminated the integrated pest management package to curb this menace. The current study uses household-level data from 325 smallholder mango-growing households from selected regions in Zambia to...
Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential macronutrients for plant growth and development, and it is an integral part of the major organic components, including nucleic acids, proteins and phospholipids. Although total P is abundant in most soils, a large amount of P is not easily absorbed by plants. Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is the plant-available P, which is generally immobile and of low availability in soils. Hence, Pi starvation is a major constraint limiting plant growth and produ...
Abstract: Fall armyworm (FAW)Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E. Smith), damagewas monitored at a regional scale using time series data inWestern and Southern African countries. The study employed thenormalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) computed fromLandsat 8 imagery using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) usingimage composites for the years 2013 to 2020 for the study areas.The index was then reclassified based on the NDVI threshold val-ues into low, sparse, moderate, and dense classes. FAW prev...
Abstract: The negative effects of pest infestation on agricultural production cannot be underestimated. There have been several efforts to control these pests, chiefly through the use of synthetic pesticides. However, the continuous use of the chemicals causes pest resistance and resurgence and presents high human and environmental risks. This study examines the economic, health, and environmental impacts of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick 1917), an economically important pest in tomato production, a...
Abstract: Temperature is an important factor determining the abundance, distribution and diversity of termite species. Thus, termites are affected by changing climate and have to adopt different means of surviving in order to avoid extinction. Using termite occurrence data, bioclimatic variables and vegetation cover, we modelled and predicted the current and future habitat suitability for mound-building termites in Nigeria. Of the 19 bioclimatic variables and the vegetation index (NDVI) test...
Abstract: The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), is a damaging crop pest that has recently invaded and established across Africa from its native tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. To develop an improved monitoring system for the FAW, we evaluated five commercial sex pheromone lures (Shenzhen Bioglobal, FALLTRACK, Enlure, P061-Lure and PH-869-1PR), three trap types (delta, bucket, and water-pan) and six placement heights (ground level, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 m ab...
Abstract: In Zimbabwe, the structure and integrity of various ecosystems is rapidly deteriorating, in part due to invasive alien plants. While there is recognition of the challenges posed by invasive alien plants and the complexity surrounding their successful management, very little has been done, documented or evaluated in the country recently, including classical weed biological control activities. We review the current status of invasive alien plants and classical weed biological control...
Abstract: Crucifers and traditional African vegetables (TAVs) are important to smallholders in Kenya and Tanzania, but yield remains below potential due to pests and diseases. Agroecological production methods present a nature-based solution to pest and disease management in crucifer and TAV production. We explore the status of farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding agroecological-based production pest management practices. Structured and pretested questionnaires were used ...
Abstract: The growing scarcity of resources for feed production and environmental concerns highlight the unsustainability of conventional feed sources. Insect farming is considered as an alternative feed due to its low land and water requirements, its low ecological footprint, and circular economy contribution by converting biowaste into high-quality feed ingredients. While there is growing research on the technical feasibility and nutritional performance of insect-based feed, its potential ...
Abstract: The role of questing ticks in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR), an ecosystem with intensified human-wildlife-livestock interactions, remains poorly understood. We surveyed the diversity of questing ticks, their blood-meal hosts, and tick-borne pathogens to understand potential effects on human and livestock health. By flagging and hand-picking from vegetation in 25 localities, we collected 1,465 host-seeking ticks, mostly Rhip...
Abstract: This paper uses a translog cost function approach to study the farm-level demand for poultry feed in Kenya. The study estimates the demand elasticities of the three common types of poultry feed; mixed feed, grain, and leafy vegetables. The estimated model was used to obtain estimates of Marshallian demand elasticities for poultry feed in Kenya for male-headed and female-headed households. The elasticities reported can be used by researchers and policy analysts to evaluate policy ef...
Abstract: Fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is a major pest affecting cereal production in Africa. Biological control (BC) technologies are being promoted as a sustainable alternative to chemical control, which can lead to health risks and environmental hazards. However, effective deployment of these technologies requires site-specific recommendations. In this study, we use a step-by-step modelling approach to map suitable sites for BC technologies, focusing on the para...
Abstract: Sitophilus zeamais causes significant losses to maize produce worldwide. The use of biodegradable and environmentally friendly botanicals as an alternative to synthetic pesticides is increasingly becoming important. Therefore, we sought to determine the use of plant extract formulations to manage S. zeamais during storage. Crude Zanthroxylum usambarense and Warburgia ugandensis stembark extracts were used for contact toxicity and repellent bioassays against S. zeamais. The formulat...