Smallholder farmers challenged to use Agroecological innovations to manage Armyworms, improve food security

Total Land Care (TLC) in collaboration with International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) and GIZ-Malawi have challenged smallholder farmers to use agroecological innovations through the Push Pull project for managing Fall Army Worms (FAW) thereby improving maize production.

TLC representative Chikondi Mlera told farmers in Salima during a Field Day that while managing the worms, the project will help farmers improve their maize production and food security .

“This project tries to discourage or minimize the use of inorganic pesticides for controlling FAW because it has adverse effects on human health, biodiversity and environmental pollution,” he said.

Pointing out that the use of inorganic pesticides is very costly against farmers’ affordability.

One of the farmers, Boniface Nyakwasi from Chikaola Village, Chinguluwe EPA in the district said for many years ago, he suffered consistent declining in maize yields as a result of heavy fall armyworm (FAW) infestations exacerbated by ignorance of knowledge of cheaper ecological solutions to halt the problem.

“I used to buy unknown synthetic pesticides from unregistered agrodealers, which never eradicated the problem but rather depleted his hard earned resources either the chemicals were expired or the targeted pest built resistance,” he lamented.

Adding: “Life started changing gradually after hearing a fellow community lady farmer at Chisomo Community Radio testifying the strengths of Push Pull technology as a solution to FAW control.”

Nyakwasi explained that the technology showcased at the Field Day propelled positive change in his faming history after releasing reduction in FAW infestation, significant maize yield jump and assured of housed food sufficiency to support his family to meet the next maize harvest in winter cropping season.

Besides these breakthroughs, he said, he did not keep the gospel of agroecological innovations to himself but train several members so that the community is agroecologically transformed to live and farm with nature against FAW as well as maximizing ecological benefits.

To further convince other farmers to adopt the technology, Nyakwasi highlighted economic and ecological benefits such seed is bought once for all, the companion plants are perennial which can stay in the field for more years, as well as vegetative planting materials can be used afterwards.

He said there is need for commitment to sustain the plants by following agronomic recommendations from experts.

Nyakwasi pointed that food poisoning is reduced through eating contaminated cobs damaged by FAW larvae.

“Nowadays some of the disease complication people face can be partly attributed to such hidden food poisoning.

With the technology, farmers can boost biodiversity in the field due to non-use of inorganic pesticides. Weed control in maize farming demands a higher portion of production cost next to fertilizers.