| dc.description | The Insect Resistant Maize for Africa (IRMA) project is a joint project between Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARl) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) with financial support from the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture. The goal of IRMA project is to increase maize production and food security through the deployment of insect resistant maize germplasm developed using conventional and biotechnology technology, such as Bt maize, to reduce losses due to stem borers. In Kenya,stem borers inflict maize yield losses estimated to be on average 13.5% valued at KES 5.6 billion (US$ 72 million) annually. Surveys conducted between 1995 and 2002 indicate that Kenyan farmers use several insecticides (mostly trich1orophon, fenitrothion, permethrin and Bulldocka), and/or local technical knowledge (e.g., ash, soil, chilies, plant products) for stem borer control, while some make no attempt to control stem borers. Using chemical control (Bulldock) on approximately 70,000 ha of maize grown in the Coast Province would cost about KES 22 million annually, when applied at the rate of 2.5 kg/ha (not including the cost of labor for application [PDA, Coast Province]). Insect resistant plants, e.g., transgenic plants with insecticides derived from the common soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), are becoming increasingly important for pest management mainly because the insecticidal crystal proteins (also called d-endotoxins) from Bt are extremely toxic to certain pests, but cause no harm to humans, most beneficial insects, and other nontarget organisms. Other advantages of transgenic plants over pesticide use are that they offer labor-free insect protection throughout the plant growth cycle, from seedling to maturity, and the pesticide is confined to plants thus limiting soil and water pollution. One concern about utilizing Bt maize technology is the possible development of resistance to the Bt toxins by the target stem borer species. However, the rate of evolution of resistance can be slowed or stopped through the use of appropriate resistance management strategies. To this end, the IRMA project is developing maize varieties that carry Bt and conventional resistance. In addition, resistance management strategies are being developed; the primary strategy being provision of a refuge consisting of host plants that do not produce the toxins (refugia) and can maintain populations of nonresistant borers that will breed with potentially resistant borers and limit the build-up of resistant insect populations. To be accepted by farmers, however, IRM strategies must conform to existing cropping systems, and the refugia crops must be economically viable and socially acceptable to farmers. For the past three years, IRMA scientists have conducted field trials and lab bioassays to screen and identify suitable refugia crops. Their findings indicate that fodders and cereal crops such as sorghum, maize, Columbus grass, pearl millet, giant setaria and some napier grass varieties are suitable refugia, based on the researchers' criteria. The scientists have also conducted surveys in 15 major maize growing districts in Kenya to estimate and document the area covered by existing potential alternative hosts of major stem borer species that may be recommended as natural refugia. They have also mapped the potential refugia at a district level to identify regions where structured refugia may be necessary. To complement the researchers' efforts and increase the chances that the Bt maize and refugia concept will be accepted by the farmers, the IRMA scientists organized a workshop to get the farmers input, with the following objectives: (1) Create awareness in Kenya about the development of insect resistant maize through conventional and Bt gene-based resistance. (2) Sensitize researchers, extension officers, and farmers to the importance of refugia in the management of insect resistance. (3) Share information about research, adoption, production, utilization, and distribution of pastures/fodders in the Kenyan coastal region. (4) Share information from the ongoing KARI/CIMMYT IRMA project collaborative field and laboratory trials on refugia. (5) Identify potential refugia species for stem borers and management strategies to be tested on-station and on-farm, derived from the experiences of researchers, extension officers, and farmers. (6) Harmonize researchers, extension, and farmer performance and process indicators, and develop frameworks for participatory monitoring and evaluation he workshop title was "Integration of pastures, fodders and cereal crops as refugia for stem borers in the farming systems of the humid coastal Kenya." The basis of the theme is the importance of livestock in coastal Kenya. More than 90% of the farmers in the coastal region keep livestock, and pastures and fodders are the main source of livestock feeds. The most abundant pastures/fodders for cattle at the coast are natural pastures (a mixture of grasses and local legumes, including trees and shrubs), napier grass, star grass, panicum and comellina. Sorghum, maize, pearl millet and foxtail millet are also grown by only a few farmers, but their area could be increased by sensitizing the farmers to their usefulness and by introducing improved varieties. Thirty-two participants (12 farmers, nine extensionists, and12 researchers) attended the workshop. The extension staff and farmers were representatives from the major districts of Coast Province. The workshop was very participatory. An exercise was conducted to rank refugia species in the IRMA experimental plots at KARl Mtwapa by the 3 groups of participants and their respective criteria (farmers, extensionists, and researchers). Not surprisingly, different rankings emerged. The farmers' five best refugia species in ranked order were the local maize variety Mdzihana, local sorghum Brown 2, Napier 16837, and Pioneer maize. The species preferred by researchers were local sorghum Deep Red 9, pearl millet, and Pioneer maize, while extension staff chose three local sorghum varieties (Red, White, and Brown), and Columbus grass. The criteria for ranking refugia was based on the crop being able to resist borer attack, availability of seed and usefulness as livestock feed and food. The researchers and extension staff used the level of damage by stem borers as the major criteria for selecting refugia. When the criteria produced by the three groups were combined, the common aggregate criteria were resistance to stem borers, alternative uses, and the ability to attract and support stem borers. The farmers also mentioned availability of seed as an important criterion that should not be ignored. Other information presented during the workshop included previous and ongoing research on pastures/ fodders; the farming systems of the Coast Province; major fodders/forages grown by farmers (their yields, nutritional value, and preferred varieties); and types of natural pastures/fodders and grasses (their distribution and percent of area covered). Participants shared their experiences in growing and utilizing the pastures and fodders. A ground-level perspective was provided through a visit to two livestock farmers near the KARI-Mtwapa Center. Similar workshops are planned for other maize growing areas including Embu, Kakamega, and Kitale. In conclusion, it was reinforced that farmers use their own criteria for judging technologies, and that these vary in different areas. We documented the criteria used to choose forage plants and the preferred potential refugia species for the humid coastal region. These criteria may be used as indicators to measure success or failure of projects. In concert with farmers and extensionists, new areas of research areas were identified. viii The workshop title was "Integration of pastures, fodders and cereal crops as refugia for stem borers in the farming systems of the humid coastal Kenya." The basis of the theme is the importance of livestock in coastal Kenya. More than 90% of the farmers in the coastal region keep livestock, and pastures and fodders are the main source of livestock feeds. The most abundant pastures/ fodders for cattle at the coast are natural pastures (a mixture of grasses and local legumes, including trees and shrubs), napier grass, star grass, panicum and comellina. Sorghum, maize, pearl millet and foxtail millet are also grown by only a few farmers, but their area could be increased by sensitizing the farmers to their usefulness and by introducing improved varieties. Thirty-two participants (12 farmers, nine extensionists, and12 researchers) attended the workshop. The extension staff and farmers were representatives from the major districts of Coast Province. The workshop was very participatory. An exercise was conducted to rank refugia species in the IRMA experimental plots at KARl Mtwapa by the 3 groups of participants and their respective criteria (farmers, extensionists, and researchers). Not surprisingly, different rankings emerged. The farmers' five best refugia species in ranked order were the local maize variety Mdzihana, local sorghum Brown 2, Napier 16837, and Pioneer maize. The species preferred by researchers were local sorghum Deep Red 9, pearl millet, and Pioneer maize, while extension staff chose three local sorghum varieties (Red, White, and Brown), and Columbus grass. The criteria for ranking refugia was based on the crop being able to resist borer attack, availability of seed and usefulness as livestock feed and food. The researchers and extension staff used the level of damage by stem borers as the major criteria for selecting refugia. When the criteria produced by the three groups were combined, the common aggregate criteria were resistance to stem borers, alternative uses, and the ability to attract and support stem borers. The farmers also mentioned availability of seed as an important criterion that should not be ignored. Other information presented during the workshop included previous and ongoing research on pastures/fodders; the farming systems of the Coast Province; major fodders/forages grown by farmers (their yields, nutritional value, and preferred varieties); and types of natural pastures/fodders and grasses (their distribution and percent of area covered). Participants shared their experiences in growing and utilizing the pastures and fodders. A ground-level perspective was provided through a visit to two livestock farmers near the KARI-Mtwapa Center. Similar workshops are planned for other maize growing areas including Embu, Kakamega, and Kitale. In conclusion, it was reinforced that farmers use their own criteria for judging technologies, and that these vary in different areas. We documented the criteria used to choose forage plants and the preferred potential refugia species for the humid coastal region. These criteria may be used as indicators to measure success or failure of projects. In concert with farmers and extensionists, new areas of research areas were identified. | |
