AGROVEG: Intensified Agroecological-Based Cropping Systems to Enhance Food Security, Environmental Safety, and Income of Smallholder Producers of Crucifers and Traditional African Vegetables in East Africa

Funder: Biovision Foundation for Ecological Development　

Duration: 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2024

Project location: Tanzania and Kenya

Background

The yield and quality of both traditional African vegetables (TAVs) and crucifer crops are negatively affected by wide ranges of pests. Lepidopteran defoliators, stem weevils, stink bugs, aphids, flea beetles and spider mites are major pests of TAVs such as amaranth and African nightshade. Major pests of crucifer crops such as cabbage include the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae), the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), the cabbage webworm (Hellula undalis) and the bagrada bug (Bagrada hilaris). Developing and applying safe and sustainable pest management practices are essential.

Objectives

Led by icipe, the project uses the following approaches to addressing the problem.

Agroecology-based push-pull approach to manage the pests on a sustainable basis. An example is the use of other plant varieties that are resistant to the pests as ‘dead-end’ trap crops.
Functionally-selected crop mixes to enhance productivity by synergizing the growth and productivity of companion crops to reduce pest incidence through stimulo-deterrence, trap cropping or dead-end trap cropping mechanisms.
Exercise novel, eco-friendly and sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) technologies such as the use of the pests’ natural enemies (e.g. parasitoids, predatory mites), biopesticides, as well as resistant crop varieties and intercropping.
Upscale the use of improved varieties with safe and sustainable pest control measures.

Expected results

Major pests of TAVs and crucifers managed through agroecology-based push-pull approach.
Increased application of biopesticides, hence reduced synthetic pesticide use and increased safe vegetable production that benefit growers as well as consumers.
Reduced environmental contamination and preservation of natural enemies and pollinators due to reduced use of synthetic pesticides.
Increased use of improved varieties grown under safe vegetable production practices.