By Joshua Masinde
Scientists are calling for accelerated adoption of new hybrid maize varieties with resistance to maize lethal necrosis (MLN) disease in sub-Saharan Africa. In combination with recommended integrated pest management practices, adopting these new varieties is an important step towards safeguarding smallholder farmers against this devastating viral disease.
A new publication in Virus Research shows that these second-generation MLN-resistant hybrids developed by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) offer better yields and increased resilience against MLN and other stresses. The report warns that the disease remains a key threat to food security in eastern Africa and that, should containment efforts slacken, it could yet spread to new regions in sub-Saharan Africa.
Announcing CIMMYT-derived fall armyworm tolerant elite maize hybrids for eastern and southern Africa
Breakthrough comes after three years of intensive research and trials conducted in Kenya and during the United Nations International Year of Plant Health and represents a significant advance in the global fight against fall armyworm.
December 23, 2020
A collage of maize images accompanies a CIMMYT announcement about fall armyworm-tolerant maize hybrids for Africa.
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is pleased to announce the successful development of three CIMMYT-derived fall armyworm-tolerant elite maize hybrids for eastern and southern Africa.
Fall armyworm (
Spodoptera frugiperda) emerged as a serious threat to maize production in Africa in 2016 before spreading to Asia in 2018. Host plant resistance is an important component of integrated pest management (IPM). By leveraging tropical insect-resistant maize germplasm developed in M
Reprieve for donkey owners as slaughter ban helps stem theft
Tuesday December 22 2020
By FAITH NYAMAI
Summary
Donkey owners are celebrating the ongoing efforts by animal welfare organisations to push for a total ban on the slaughter of donkeys and consumption of their meat.
They are hopeful that the long nights of uncertainty about the safety of their donkeys will be consigned to memory, and that Kenya will soon see a significant increase in the number of donkeys, reversing the worrying decline in their population of recent years.
Kenya’s donkey population fell to about 1.2 million from 1.8 million in 2010, thanks in no small part to the decision in 2012 to allow their slaughter for export to the meet growing demand for its meat and hide in China.
Wheat disease common to South America jumps to Africa
Speed read
The fungus can cause yield losses of up to 100 per cent.
There is need for quick action to stem its spread, scientist say
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THE STANDARD By
Jeckonia Otieno |
December 19th 2020 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
Dr. Eston Mutitu (far right) shows officials from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the KEFRI Board of Directors equipment to be used for research in the newly built KEFRI insect quarantine and Research facility. [Emmanuel Mochoge, Standard]
Kenya has launched a Sh40 million insect quarantine facility hosted at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (Kefri).
The research facility, the first in East and Central Africa and the second in Africa after South Africa, is a milestone for researchers.
The centre will help Kenya manage and control insects from other countries that come through border points.