The potential for using botanicals and other indigenous knowledge systems for the control of post harvest insect pests of maize are discussed. Post harvest losses of maize can be very high. The use of some botanicals and indigenous knowledge are in practice to manage insect pests in farmers' storage systems. Sweet flag rhizome powder at the rate of 20-30 g kg-1 of grain was found to be superior to other botanicals tested. Similarly, other indigenous knowledge such as choice of variety, harvesting time, drying, appropriate sites or places for storage, use of locally available materials (household lime, wood ash, oil cake) are commonly used by farmers to reduce infestations of storage insects. Acarus calamus powder was effective in minimizing infestations of Sitaphilus weevils on maize kunias (a heap of maize cobs placed in the store) but the application of Acarus pieces was not as effective as powder when both were applied at the rate of 30 g kg"l of grain at three different layers (i.e. bottom-,|middle- and top-Iayer of the maize kunia}. Adaptive research is required to ensure that botanic~s and other indigenous knowledge system are effectIve, that the method of preparation and application are well described and their performance properly evaluated.

English

0209|AGRIS 0201|AL-Maize Program|R01CIMPU

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection