Herbicides
Agriculture experts are now calling on Kenyan farmers to embrace a new approach to weed control in their maize farms. This approach, dubbed; Chemical Farming, is gaining popularity as a viable alternative to traditional weeding methods.
A research study already conducted by CropLife International has revealed that maize is a crucial staple food in Sub-Saharan Africa, covering over 25 million hectares of land. Surprisingly, despite its importance, maize production in Kenya for instance, has the lowest yield worldwide, averaging only 1.5 tons per hectare compared to the global average of 4.9 tons per hectare.
The main challenges that maize farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, face are weed infestations, insect attacks, and disease pathogens. These challenges however can be effectively managed through the use of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.
In Kenya, hand weeding is the most common method employed by small-scale maize farmers to control weeds. However, labour shortages during the early stages of the season often lead to delayed weeding, resulting in significant maize yield losses ranging from 15 to 90 percent due to weed competition.
The research also highlights that prolonged weed competition throughout the season can cause even higher losses, ranging from 50 to 90 percent. While there have been experiments and extensive studies on the use of herbicides to control weeds in maize farms in Kenya, the adoption of this technology has been slow among small-scale farmers.
One of the reasons for this slow uptake is the lack of an effective mechanism to disseminate the knowledge and technology to smallholders once the research is completed. Pamela Odhiambo, a small-scale maize farmer in Suna East, Migori County, attributes this slow adoption to ignorance and lack of awareness about the availability of affordable herbicides for weed control in maize.
She believes that many farmers, particularly those in rural areas, are unaware of these herbicides, while others assume they are expensive. Ms Odhiambo, decided to try chemical farming for the first time last season, and she has been amazed by the results.
She found that using herbicides was not only cost-effective but also a highly efficient method of controlling weeds and ensuring maximum maize yield. The farmer expressed her frustration with previous seasons when she faced difficulties in sourcing reliable labourers for weeding, which affected her farm’s performance.
However, this season again, her farm stands out in the area, attracting admiration from others. Buoyed by her success, Ms Odhiambo eagerly anticipates a bumper harvest this year and encourages other small-scale farmers to embrace chemical farming as a better alternative to traditional weeding practices.
According to the international Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), effective weed control through herbicides can have significant benefits, such as improving maize yield. Herbicides suppress weed competition, allowing maize plants to access vital nutrients, water, and sunlight, leading to healthier and more productive crops.
Additionally, herbicides offer time and labor-saving advantages. Unlike traditional weeding methods that require substantial manual labor, herbicides minimize the need for manual weeding, enabling farmers to focus on other essential farming activities.
These chemicals also provide precise control over weed growth, selectively targeting specific types of weeds without harming the maize plants. This targeted approach reduces the risk of accidental damage to the maize while minimizing competition for essential nutrients between maize and weeds. Additionally, herbicides are cost-effective and help mitigate environmental impacts.
By embracing this approach, farmers in Migori for instance can have the opportunity to enhance their agricultural practices and optimise maize production.