Project against deadly farm weed kicks off

By Sammy Jakaa

Striga weed mostly attacks cereal crops such as maize, drains plant of water causing it to wither then die

Maize farmers in Western Kenya will benefit from a four-year multi-million shilling weed eradication project funded by an international organisation.

The project dubbed ‘Integrated Striga Management in Africa’ (Isma) funded by US based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is seeking sustainable striga weed control for farmers in Africa.

Striga also known as witch weed, are parasitic weeds that attack cereal crops such as maize, sorghum, millet and legumes, greatly reducing production.

The project targets Bondo, Vihiga, Siaya, Rachuonyo, Homa Bay and Busia districts and other striga-infested locations in Kenya. It involves developing weed resistant crops and practicing farming methods that help reduce effects of the weed to a tune of Sh632 million in Kenya and Nigeria.

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According to Isma project Manager Mel Oluoch, striga weed is a major constraint to maize and legume production in smallholder farms in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Striga, S hermonthica is the most widespread weed affecting cereals with maize being the most susceptible. It is estimated to have caused yield losses in maize of between 30 to 80 per cent valued at between USD 383 million to USD 1 billion and negatively affecting livelihoods of about 100 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Oluoch.

More deadly

Dr Oluoch added that the project will adapt and intensively promote proven integrated striga control strategies in Kenya and Nigeria with active participation of farmers, community based organisations, policy makers and researchers.

The project will supply parental lines, hybrid and open pollinated varieties of maize as well as legume trap crops to private companies and community based seed producers for production, distribution and marketing.

Striga weed is also known as vampire because it sucks and drains its host of water and vital nutrients to the point that the infested plant withers and dies. Research has shown that what makes it much more deadly is that it does most of its damage underground, even before emerging and being visible to farmers above the soil surface. “By the time the weed and its tell-tale violet flowers appear, it is already too late ? there is not much that farmers can do to save their crop,” added Oluoch.

The weed produces hundreds of thousands of seeds per plant, leading to a massive build-up in the soil that can remain viable for many years.

Previously, farmers commonly used cultural methods and post-emergence herbicides, which were largely ineffective.