Agricultural Nematology in East and Southern Africa : Problems, Management Strategies and Stakeholder Linkages

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Herbert Talwana, et al, ‘Agricultural nematology in East and Southern Africa: problems, management strategies and stakeholder linkages’, Pest Management Science Vol. 72 (2): 226-245, February 2016, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ps.4104. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.By 2050, Africa’s population is projected to exceed two billion. Africa will have to increase food production more than 50% in the coming 50 years to meet the nutritional requirements of its growing population. Nowhere is the need to increase agricultural productivity more pertinent than in much of sub-Saharan Africa where it is currently static or declining. Optimal pest management will be essential, because intensification of any system creates heightened selection pressures for pests. Plant-parasitic nematodes and their damage potential are intertwined with intensified systems and can be an indicator of unsustainable practices. As soil pests, nematodes are commonly overlooked or misdiagnosed, particularly where appropriate expertise and knowledge transfer systems are meager or inadequately funded. Nematode damage to roots results in less efficient root systems that are less able to access nutrients and water, which can produce symptoms typical of water or nutrient deficiency, leading to misdiagnosis of the underlying cause. Damage in subsistence agriculture is exacerbated by growing crops on degraded soils and in areas of low water retention where strong root growth is vital. This review focuses on the current knowledge of economically important nematode pests affecting key crops, nematode control methods, and the research and development needs for sustainable management, stakeholder involvement and capacity building in the context of crop security in East and Southern Africa, especially Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.Peer reviewe

Trade, environment and development : import of flowers from Africa to Norway

This Noragric Report was commissioned by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) to Noragric.The purpose of this study is to asses to what degree and how it is possible to increase import of agricultural products from low income sub-Saharan African countries to Norway by benefiting from zero tariffs, and in a way that is environmentally sustainable and contributes towards poverty reduction. Mester Grønn is selected as a case because Mester Grønn has been able to utilise the zero tariff advantage for import of agricultural products granted to least developed countries (LDC) in July 2002. The import of roses from Africa to Norway has increased substantially during the last years, one important reason being Mester Grønn. Mester Grønn successfully imports 98% of its roses from Africa. The rose production creates income opportunities that contribute towards improved livelihoods of poor men and particular women in Africa. Roses produced in Tanzania and transported to Norway by air also have lower emissions than roses produced and sold in Norway. This study assesses reasons why the import of African roses by Mester Grønn has been a success and what lessons can be learned for import of other agricultural products from Africa to Norway. The study concludes that in order to reach the Norwegian market, low-income African countries need to find partners in Norway who are willing to invest in the whole market chain from production to consumer, either on their own or by linking with other professional actors. The Norwegian government could provide better incentives to Norwegian agro-business to team up with partners in low-income African countries. To the degree that it is possible to find ways of having both farmers and the private sector in Norway and in low-income African countries benefit from collaboration and increased import to Norway, the prospects for success will be greater

Miti ya matunda kwa hifadhi ya mazingira na stahimili ya mabadiliko ya tabia nchi

FRUIT TREES -CLIMATE CHANGE - ADAPTATIONKilimo ni uti wa mgongo wa mkulima vijijini. Kulingana na kukua kwa familia, kupungua kwa rutuba na mabadiliko ya mahitaji ya wakulima vijijini wakulima wameendelea kufungua mashamba mapya ili kuongeza mavuno na kipato. Upanuzi huu wa mashamba mara nyingi huambatana na kukatwa kwa miti au misitu. Hali hii inaleta ukame na ongezeko la joto katika maeneo husika. Ukataji wa miti kwa ajili ya kuongeza ukubwa wa mashamba ya mazao hasa ya chakula yanahusishwa na dalili kubwa za mabadiliko ya tabia nchi. Jitihada nyingi zimefanyika ili kuhamasisha wananchi kuhifadhi mazingira kwa kampeni za kupanda miti na kuhamasisha wananchi kutokata miti bila kupanda mti. Hata hivyo mwongozo huu, mara nyingi hulenga miti ya misitu peke yake. Kitabu hiki kinatoa mwongozo wa mbinu za ustawishaji wa miti ya matunda kama njia nyingine ya kuhifadhi mazingira na kujihami na mabadiliko ya tabia nchi. Kulingana na tafiti zilizofanyika juu ya miti ya misitu, inatarajiwa kwamba miti ya matunda pia itasaidia kupungua hewa ya ukaa, kupunguza ongezeko la joto, na kuboresha mkusanyiko wa mawingu ya mvua, kuimarisha utunzaji wa maji aridhini katika maeneo ya mashambani. Zaidi ya yote, mit ya matunda itasaidia kuongeza uhakika wa chakula na kipato cha kaya vijijini. Kwa kuwa miti ya matunda itakuwa na thamani kubwa kwa familia, hivyo si rahisi kukatwa kwa matumizi mengine (kama vile kuni au mkaa). Hivyo basi elimu ya uzalishaji wa miche na utunzaji mzuri wa bustani za matunda ni muhimu ili kuweka mazingira mazuri ya uoto wa kijani, kuhifadhi ardhi na kujihami na mabadiliko ya tabia nchi. Kitabu hiki kinatoa maelezo ya mbinu bora za uzalishaji wa miche na ustawishaji wa Miparachichi, Miembe, na Michunga. Chimbuko la kazi hii ni moja ya miradi inaloyenga utekelezaji wa shughuli za mpango mpya unaohusu hifadhi ya mazingira na stahimili ya mabadiliko ya tabia nchi (Climate Change Impacts Adaptation and Mitigation - CCIAM)

Trade, environment and development : import of flowers from Africa to Norway

The purpose of this study is to asses to what degree and how it is possible to increase import of agricultural products from low income sub-Saharan African countries to Norway by benefiting from zero tariffs, and in a way that is environmentally sustainable and contributes towards poverty reduction. Mester Grønn is selected as a case because Mester Grønn has been able to utilise the zero tariff advantage for import of agricultural products granted to least developed countries (LDC) in July 2002. The import of roses from Africa to Norway has increased substantially during the last years, one important reason being Mester Grønn. Mester Grønn successfully imports 98% of its roses from Africa. The rose production creates income opportunities that contribute towards improved livelihoods of poor men and particular women in Africa. Roses produced in Tanzania and transported to Norway by air also have lower emissions than roses produced and sold in Norway. This study assesses reasons why the import of African roses by Mester Grønn has been a success and what lessons can be learned for import of other agricultural products from Africa to Norway. The study concludes that in order to reach the Norwegian market, low-income African countries need to find partners in Norway who are willing to invest in the whole market chain from production to consumer, either on their own or by linking with other professional actors. The Norwegian government could provide better incentives to Norwegian agro-business to team up with partners in low-income African countries. To the degree that it is possible to find ways of having both farmers and the private sector in Norway and in low-income African countries benefit from collaboration and increased import to Norway, the prospects for success will be greater

First report of entomopathogenic nematodes from Tanzania and their virulence against larvae and adults of the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

International Journal of Tropical Insect Science Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 154–161, 2011 doi:10.1017/S1742758411000294 @ icipe 2011A survey on the occurrence of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) was conducted in selected banana fields from three regions in Tanzania, namely Mbeya (Southern Highlands), Morogoro (Lowland) and Pwani (Coast). The main objective of this study was to isolate EPNs naturally occurring in banana fields in Tanzania and to test their effect on banana weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus Germar 1824).We report for the first time the presence of EPNs in Tanzania where four (4.4%) out of 90 samples contained nematodes in the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis. EPNs were only isolated in the coastal region in soils with a high sand content. The virulence of nine EPN isolates was tested against larvae and adults of C. sordidus. All isolates caused mortality of the larval stages, whereas the adults appeared resistant to nematode infection. Larval mortality was found to increase significantly with increasing nematode dose. It was also shown that nematodes were able to penetrate and establish in the banana weevil larvae in increasing numbers with increasing nematode dose. The study indicates the potential for including EPNs in management strategies of banana weevil

First report of entomopathogenic nematodes from Tanzania and their virulence against larvae and adults of the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

International Journal of Tropical Insect Science Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 154–161, 2011 doi:10.1017/S1742758411000294 @ icipe 2011A survey on the occurrence of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) was conducted in selected banana fields from three regions in Tanzania, namely Mbeya (Southern Highlands), Morogoro (Lowland) and Pwani (Coast). The main objective of this study was to isolate EPNs naturally occurring in banana fields in Tanzania and to test their effect on banana weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus Germar 1824).We report for the first time the presence of EPNs in Tanzania where four (4.4%) out of 90 samples contained nematodes in the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis. EPNs were only isolated in the coastal region in soils with a high sand content. The virulence of nine EPN isolates was tested against larvae and adults of C. sordidus. All isolates caused mortality of the larval stages, whereas the adults appeared resistant to nematode infection. Larval mortality was found to increase significantly with increasing nematode dose. It was also shown that nematodes were able to penetrate and establish in the banana weevil larvae in increasing numbers with increasing nematode dose. The study indicates the potential for including EPNs in management strategies of banana weevil

Entomopathogenic Nematodes Combined with Adjuvants Presents a New Potential Biological Control Method for Managing the Wheat Stem Sawfly, Cephus cinctus (Hymenoptera: Cephidae)

The wheat stem sawfly, (Cephus cinctus Norton) Hymenoptera: Cephidae, has been a major pest of winter wheat and barley in the northern Great Plains for more than 100 years. The insect's cryptic nature and lack of safe chemical control options make the wheat stem sawfly (WSS) difficult to manage; thus, biological control offers the best hope for sustainable management of WSS. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have been used successfully against other above-ground insect pests, and adding adjuvants to sprays containing EPNs has been shown to improve their effectiveness. We tested the hypothesis that adding chemical adjuvants to sprays containing EPNs will increase the ability of EPNs to enter wheat stems and kill diapausing WSS larvae. This is the first study to test the ability of EPNs to infect the WSS, C. cinctus, and test EPNs combined with adjuvants against C. cinctus in both the laboratory and the field. Infection assays showed that three different species of EPNs caused 60-100% mortality to WSS larvae. Adding Penterra, Silwet L-77, Sunspray 11N, or Syl-Tac to solutions containing EPNs resulted in higher WSS mortality than solutions made with water alone. Field tests showed that sprays containing S. feltiae added to 0.1% Penterra increased WSS mortality up to 29.1%. These results indicate a novel control method for WSS, and represent a significant advancement in the biological control of this persistent insect pest