Low-cost natural spray kills African armyworm. Validated RNRRS Output.
Abstract
This is one of 280 summaries describing key outputs from the projects run by DFID's 10-year Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS) programmes.
Principally based on Projects R8408, R7954 and R6746. Poor farmers now have a new, low-cost spray to control African armyworm. This devastating pest migrates from Tanzania and Kenya to eastern and southern Africa. Farmers can lose between a quarter to nearly three-quarters of their crops and pastures in armyworm outbreaks. As well as being environmentally friendly, the new spray replaces expensive chemical insecticides. It's made from armyworms that die when they feed on low-grade pastures sprayed with a virus. Because the dead armyworms are full of the virus, they can then be used to make more spray to kill more armyworms. This can be done locally rather than in far-off factories. Proven in Tanzania, the spray kills armyworm just as effectively as conventional insecticides and is already used in the armyworm control programme there.
The CD has the following information for this output: Description, Validation, Current Situation, Environmental Impact. Attached PDF (9 pp.) taken from the CD.
Citation
CPP43, New technologies, new processes, new policies: tried-and-tested and ready-to-use results from DFID-funded research, Research Into Use Programme, Aylesford, Kent, UK, ISBN 978-0-9552595-6-2, p 49.