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Honey bee publish details |
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AFRICA CALLING |
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| Title |
Agonizing Ants can be Friendsr; |
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| Abstract |
In the discourse on international agricultural development, Africa is often seen as a recipient of advice, assistance and aid. Technological solutions are supposed to be brought from outside. In the second part of the continuing series of innovations and traditional knowledge of African farmers documented by African Science Centre, Paul van Mele, technology transfer agronomist (p.vanmele@cgiar.org), provides many more experiences of the opposite kind, that is, where other countries can learn from African farmers. Paul is also trying to collect the knowledge of the farmers from around the world to reduce the damage by red ant (Oecophylla longinoda) in coffee plantation, though this ant is quite useful for many other crops. Readers are requested to share their experiences about the ants.
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Seed Treatment with Tamarind Leaves
Tati Diassana, Mali
18/12/06
Mrs Tati Diassana is a rice producer who lives in Djénéna in the Urban San Commune.
She uses the tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) leaves for safe storage of seeds. The seeds are completely dried under the sun by covering them with tamarind branches. After this the tamarind leaves are removed from the branches and mixed with the seeds.
At the end of the seed drying operation, the mixture of seeds and tamarind leaves is put in a tightly closed container for storage. The container should be opened only when seed is needed.
Tati, the producer, has always used this technique to control insects. Recently, several farmers in the villages where tamarind is available practice this technique to store the seeds of rice, millet, sorghum, soybeans, peanut, etc., (it remains to be seen whether tamarind leaves dried separately and mixed with sun dried grains at the time of storage will have the same effect, Ed.)
A study reports that besides Mali and Ghana, farmers in Benin also claim that seeds stored with crushed pepper and tamarind leaves remain viable for at least four years. (http://www.bioversity international.org/Publications/1066/Low-cost.pdf)
Control of Termites in Cassava Using Pounded Neem Leaves, Water and Salt
Modou Lamin Darboe, Gambia
06/03/06
Termite damage in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) has been on the increase. Several methods such as chemical spraying, using lime and many other techniques proved unsuccessful. Modou Lamin Darboe, a small scale farmer and a local researcher developed an innovative practice to control termites in his cassava field. He used 15 kg Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) leaves pounded and mixed in 15 litres of water. A small quantity of salt was added to the mixture. The cassava cuttings were soaked for 12 hours before planting. When he planted the cassava cuttings after few days he realized that the cuttings were performing well. No traces of termite damages were found and at harvest, the tubers were better than before. Farmers were then introduced to the technology the following year and they are highly convinced of the innovation and a lot of them have started using it countrywide.
(Extracts of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) are well known for their insecticidal properties. Ed).
Improving Soil Fertility Using Groundnut Shells
Awa Njie, Gambia
10/4/2006
Soil fertility has been a major concern for rice farmers for many years now. Chemical fertilizers are expensive and are not affordable by farmers. They cost almost the same as 50 kg per bag of imported rice. Farmers tried many options such as composting and use of cow dung, but they have realized the labour involved in composting is quite high and the availability of dung in sufficient quantity is not assured and the cost is also high.
Awa Njie is one of the farmers who grows both rice and groundnut. During groundnut decortications she uses the shells from the groundnut and applies them in her rice fields. During land preparation she incorporated the shells into soil and planted her rice. After harvest she realized there was an increase in her yields. When neighbouring farmers saw this, they also tried the same with similar results. The innovation is now adopted by most of the farmers in her village.
A field trial conducted during kharif season of 2003 at Junagadh, Gujarat, India, on pigeon pea reveals that groundnut shell mulch is highly effective and results in higher plant height, spread as well as grain and straw yield as compared to other treatments. (Vadi, H. D., Kachot, N. A., Shekh, M. A., Khafi, H. R., Kikani, V. L., Crop Research (Hisar), 30(1):19-22, 2005)
Red Ants (Oecophylla longinoda) Control in Coffee Plantations
Ouo Ernest Sonomou, Guinea
22/03/2003
Ouo Ernest Sonomou is a farmer from the village of Gopouta in the Guinea Forest region. One day, as he was cutting a bunch of palm kernel fruits on his farm, he stepped on a termitary that hung on the young palm tree underneath a coffee tree. All of a sudden he saw the red ants fleeing from the coffee tree. Stung by curiosity, he looked for another termitary with the view to ascertain whether these black ants from the termitary were behind the sudden flight of the red ants. He saw that it was indeed under the effect of the little black ants that the red ants fled. Since the red ants hinder coffee harvest, he started using these termitaries to drive away the red ants. He shared this with other farmers, and many practice this innovation today.
Mele, P. A historical review of research on the weaver ant Oecophylla in biological control (Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 10(1):13-2, 2008).
Van Mele, P. & Cuc, N.T.T. 2007. Ants as Friends: Improving your Tree Crops with Weaver Ants (2nd Edition). Africa Rice Center (WARDA), Cotonou, Benin, and CAB International, UK ¸ pp. 68.
A study suggests that inter-specific ant predation has been a significant factor in the evolution of colony defence systems, such as evacuation or aggressive recruitment and caste polymorphism (Brent Lamon and Howard Topoff, Animal Behaviour, 29(4):1070-1081,1981) .
Dhiru Bhai Dayalji Bhai Patel of Dhej village in South Gujarat region deploys ants to control larvae. He collects few ants in a match box and brings them to field. On being released, the ants climb up the creepers and begin attacking the larvae (Pastakia, Astad R. FPM Thesis on Grassroots Innovtions For Sustainable Development: 340-343, 1995)
Use of Bamboo Stems in Termites’ Control
Sekou Camara, Guinea
06/04/2006
Termites cause a lot of damage in rice, maize, peanut, and pepper fields by cutting roots and stems. This damage is significant in most parts of the fields.
Mr Sekou Camara, aged 64, has been a pursuing farming in the village of Lamikhoure since his early youth. His field is located close to the village.
Because of the difficulties in accessing inputs that are expensive, Mr Sekou Camara resolved to find a low cost solution. He cut bamboo pieces of about one metre length and planted these in the termite affected plots at intervals of one metre in all directions. Four to five days later he saw that the termites abandoned the crop to lodge in the hollow bamboo pieces. He carefully removed them and shook them off into fire.
He applied the technique to the peanut, maize, and pepper and obtained the same result by using in addition to the bamboo stems, millet or sorghum culms.
Mr Sekou Camara explained this technique to his neighbours, who had problems with termites. These people confirmed the efficiency of the technique, and today the technique is used in all the surrounding villages.
A study reports a field trapping technique which involves the use of bundles of weathered, moist bamboo culms. Termites readily feed on the nutrient rich bamboo, aggregate inside the cavities while feeding and then are collected by tapping out one end onto flat trays. This technique provides a fast, inexpensive and efficient method of trapping and segregating tens of thousand of live termites with no or minimal injury (Menandro N, Sociobiology, 44(2):255-260, 2004). Smt Bhagwati Devi, wife of shri Sunda Ram, an active Honey Bee network collaborator in Sikar district, Rajasthan and also a very creative and innovative farmer reported an experiment in w3hich eucalyptus pieces were kept in the field at regular intervals of 4-5 meters. These pieces were found to attract termites thus saving rest of the crop.
Seed Conservation Using the Small Pepper Powder
Alhassane Pendessa, Guinea
2006
Pepper (Capsicum minimum Blanco.) is harvested from the field at its ripe stage, dried in sunlight, and pounded into powder. A spoonful of pepper is mixed well in 50 kg bag of rice seeds.
The seeds must be well dried before treatment. It is recommended to store the treated bags in a dry place on wooden palings. They must be regularly checked too. This innovation is widely used by farmers in Upper, Maritime and Forest Guinea. The small pepper powder unleashes a repugnant stench that prevents pests from attacking the seeds. Treatment remains effective for four to five months.
Extracts of genus Capsicum are well known as effective food preservatives.(http://www.cals. ncsu.edu/sustainable/peet/profiles/c14peppe.html)
Dry chilli powder is mixed with the seeds for safe preservation (Honey Bee, 2(1):17, 1991).
Kani powder (Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich.) to conserve food
Alhassane Pendessa, Guinea
2006
The fruits of this tree are harvested, dried in sunlight for about ten fairly sunny days. A darkish color after the ten days shows that the fruits are well dried. These dry fruits are then pounded into a fine powder.
This powder is used for conserving foodstuffs like cassava roots, peanuts, maize grains, cowpea, beans, etc. The recommended dosage is a spoonful of powder for 50 kg of stored foodstuffs. This can also be used for seeds conservation at the same dosage.
The kani powder is an efficient method of controlling insect pest of stored foodstuffs. Its effects are reported to last for more than seven months.
A study reports that seeds stored with X. aethiopica were found to be more viable than those stored in polyethylene bags, clay pots and plastic cans (Ojime-lukwe P C; and Okoronkwo S, Journal of Food science and Technology, 36(2):170-172, 1999)
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| Volume No. |
HB19(1) January-March 2008 |
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