Trench warfare to combat crickets in southern Africa. 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.
Summary for Project titles: R8253: Biology and control of Armoured Bush Crickets in Southern Africa and R7428: Biology and control of armoured bush crickets in Southern Africa.
Crickets that devastate crops can now be kept out of fields by simple trenches or narrow barriers of insecticide. Sorghum and pearl millet are the main subsistence crops in eastern Botswana and much of southern Africa. The Armoured Bush Cricket seriously affects both. But, farmers are reluctant to spray pesticides because they consider them dangerous. Now, farmers simply dig half-metre deep trenches around their fields. Marching crickets, once in the trenches cannot get out. Putting bait in the trenches or encircling fields with narrow bands of insecticide also works, but most farmers are happy just with trenches. Now the trench system has been proven on research stations, extension workers and farmers are keen to try it out during the next cricket outbreak.
The CD has the following information for this output: Description, Validation, Current Situation, Environmental Impact. Attached PDF (9 pp.) taken from the CD.
Citation
CPP68, 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 50.