Good Morning

Nzuri Asubuhi
Bonjour

Agricultural Nets and Floating Row Covers:

New Tools for Vegetable Production in Africa

Hort CRSP 2013

Vance Baird (MSU)

Thibaud Martin (CIRAD)
Mathieu Ngouajio (MSU)

o About 33% of the

population in subSaharan Africa is
undernourished
(FAO 2006)
o Fruit and Vegetable
consumption is 20
to 80% below the
recommended
intake levels

Malnutrition
continues to
promote
among
the populations

??????????

oPest, weed and

disease management
oLack of adequate
training
oLack of capital
oEnvironment, etc.

Common situation

Preferred Situation

Partnership
to develop
solutions
adapted to
low income,
small-scale
vegetable
growers

France

USA

CIRAD

MSU

Benin
Abome C. Univ.
Apretectra
INRAB

Tanzania

Kenya
Egerton Univ.
icipe
KARI

A to Z
Textile
Mills

Partnership among
- 5 countries
- 10 institutions/organizations
- More than 15 researchers

Prof. Dr.
has taken a one-year
leave of absence from the Horticulture Department at
Michigan State University to serve as the United States
Department of Agricultures National Program Leader
for Cropping Systems

USDA - National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

Institute of Food Production and Sustainability
Stop 2240
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-2240

USA
Dr. Mathieu Ngouajio (PD) MSU- Vegetable production specialist
Dr. Karim M. Maredia- MSU- IPM specialist (project advisory board member)
Dr. Vance Baird (New PD)- MSU
France

Dr. Thibaud Martin (Co-PD)- CIRAD- Entomologist

Dr. Laurent Parrot- CIRAD- Economist
Dr. Hubert De Bon-CIRAD- Agronomist (project advisory board member)
Kenya

Dr. Lusike Wasilwa KARI-Molecular plant Pathologist

Dr. Subramanian Sevgan icipe IPM specialist and Entomologist
Dr. Mwanarusi Saidi Egerton University Horticulture specialist
Dr. Muo Kasina KARI IPM specialist and Entomologist
Ms. Fatuma Omari KARI
Benin

Dr. Francoise Komlan- INRAB- Agronomist

Dr. Anselme Adegbidi- Abomey Calavi University- Economist
Mr. Damien Ahounagassi- APRETECTRA- Extension specialist
Mr. Serge Simon-CIRAD- Agronomist
Tanzania

Dr. Pierre Guillet- A to Z Textile Mills- Entomologist

Harness alternative pest

management techniques, microclimate modifications and
educational opportunities to
improve vegetable production in
Africa

Objective # 1:
Technology Development / Implementation
Adapt and optimize AgroNets, and other
row cover technologies, for year-round
production of vegetables under diverse
local conditions

Objective # 2:
Cost and Social Impact
Determine the costs, benefits, and socioeconomic viability of AgroNets and row
cover technologies

Objective # 3:
Capacity Building & Extension
Increase local human capacity, female
empowerment, adoption and use of
locally-adapted AgroNets and other row
covers in target communities

Target Countries
EAST AFRICA
Kenya
WEST AFRICA
Benin

Differences
- Climatic
- Socio-economic
- Etc.

iotamedia.wordpress.com

Eco-Friendly Nets

Insect
population
dynamics
Pest exclusion
New pests

Micro-climate
modification
Light
Temperature
Relative Humidity
Soil Moisture

Crop biology
& physiology
Growth
Architecture
Reproduction

Yield, Quality, and Economics

Benin: Cabbage
Year 1
On-Farm
Innovative farmers
(40 sites)

Year 2
On-Farm
Innovative farmers
(40 sites)

Year 3
On-Farm
Full scale extension
(>100 sites)

Benin: Tomato
Kenya: Cabbage + tomato
Year 1 & 2
On-Station Research &
Training
(3 sites)

Year 2
On-Farm
Innovative farmers
(15 sites)

Year 3
On-Farm
Full scale extension
(>50 sites)

NGO (APRETECTRA) Team

Accomplishments
q Demonstration trials in 21
farms
q 40 farms selected for next set
of trials
q 21 farmers trained (13 female
and 8 males)
q A large survey of 300 farmers
conducted

Farmer training and surveys

Accomplishments
qSecond season of research
station trials underway
qSerge Simon has been assigned
full time to the project (Cirad match)

Serge Simon (Cirad)

INRAB Tomato nursery trial

INRAB Tomato production trial

Example of farmers: Seme Region

Accomplishments
q Two seasons completed on nursery studies
q Second field season underway

Research station sites:

- Njoro: High Land
- Nairobi: High-Mid Land
- Thika: Low Land
Laboratory site:
- Nairobi (icipe)

Net Production site:

- Arusha, Tanzanie

Kari Centers Network and agro-ecological regions

Egerton University site

Field day at Egerton University

Interaction with key partners during field days at KARI Nairobi

nNursery protection
during transplant
production
E.g. Cabbage transplant trial
at KARI March 2011

No net

Net protection

Control
Net

Height (cm/plant)

12.0

4.0
a

10.0
8.0
6.0
a
4.0

a
b

2.0
b

4.5

Leaves (no./plant)

14.0

3.5
3.0

Control

a
a

Net

2.5
2.0
1.5

17

24

31

1.0
0.5
0.0

0.0
10

17

Days after planting

24

31

10

Day after planting

High percentage of seed germination

with the nets (95% vs. 45%
Improved seedling growth and
development

nOpen field vegetable

production

Benin field trials

E.g. Cabbage field trials in

Benin

No net

Net protection

Microclimate data Kenya 2011

Uniform response in two growing seasons (season 1 shown here)
100
90

Control relative humidity

Net relative humidity

Control temperature

Net temperature

Season 1

35

80
25

70
60

20

50
15

40
30

10

20
5
10
0

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Days after planting

Temperature (oC)

Relative humidity (%)

30

Microclimate data Benin 2011

110

45
40

Hot season

100

Hot season

90
Relative humidity (%)

Temperature (C)

35
30
25
20

Cool season

15

80
70
60
50

Cool season

40
30

10

20

TNP
ANet 0,4 NT Perm

TNP
ANet 0,4 NT Perm

10

0
14

17

20

23

26

29

32

35

38

41

Days after Planting

Big contrast between the two seasons

qRelative humidity near 100% during the hot
season
qTemperature too high inside the nets during the
dry season
>>>> Poor germination and transplant growth in
the hot season
Farmers developed innovative strategies by
shading the nursery with palm leaves

0
14

18

22

26
30
34
Days after planting

38

42

0.6
TNP
ANet 0,4 NT Perm

0.5
0.4
0.3

TNP
ANet 0,4 NT Perm

0.60
Hellula undalis per plant

Helicoverpa armigera per plant

Insect data Benin 2011

Terrain.net.nz
Tomato fruit worm

0.2
0.1
0.0

0.50
0.40
0.30
Cabbage web worm

0.20
0.10
0.00

15

22

29

36

43

50

57

Days after planting

64

15

22

29 36 43 50 57
Days after planting

64

Insect data Benin 2011

Spodoptera sp. per plant

15

TNP
ANet 0,4 NT Perm

10

5
physicalgeography.net

Aphids
0
15

22

29

36

43

50

57

64

Days after planting

The nets do not

control all insects
especially aphids

Nets treated
with insecticides

Cabbage yield Benin 2011

80
70

Marketable
Unmarketable

60

Yield T/Ha

50
40
30
20
10
0
TNP

ANet 0,4 NT ANet 0,4 NT 3 j ANet 0,4 NT

Perm
Quot

ANet 0,9 NT ANet 0,9 NT 3j ANet 0,9 NT

Perm
Quot

Traitements

70% decrease of chemical sprays in farmer fields

Tomato yield Kenya 2011-2012

Student

Country Institution

Degree

Faustin Vidogbna

Benin

Ph.D.

University of Abomey-Calavi

Catherine Gacheri

Kenya

Kenyatta University

M.S.

Victor Juma

Kenya

Kenyatta University

M.S.

Judith Kiptoo

Carolyn Achienga

Elisha Otieno Gogo

Everlyne Mmbone Muleke

Victor Agohoundj
Hilaire Agons

Lauriane Yhounou
Gildas M. Adjovi

Rustique G. J. Akodogbo
Sandrine S. S. L. Sgla

Yyinou Ginette Azandeme

Emilie Deltr

* B.S with research project

Kenya

Kenya
Kenya

Kenya
Benin

Benin

Benin

Benin

Benin
Benin

Benin

France

Moi University

Kenyatta University
Egerton University

Egerton University

EPAC University of Abomey-Calavi

GASA Formation (Private University)

FSA University of Abomey- Calavi

FSA University of Abomey- Calavi

FSA University of Abomey- Calavi

FSA University of Abomey- Calavi
icipe

Cirad

M.S.
M.S.
M.S.
M.S.

B.S.*
M.S.

B.S.*

B.S.*

B.S.*
B.S.*

Ph.D.

Ph.D.

Four students defended their research in Benin

Mss. Sandrine Segla

Mr. Rustique G. J. Akodogbo

Mr. Gildas M. Adjovi

Mss. Lauriane Yhounou

Hundreds of High School students have visited trials in Kenya

Excellent tool to
draw student
interest in
agriculture

 Agro-ecology and
IPM short course at
MSU: June 17- Aug
3, 2012
Five scientists from
focus countries
attended the
training

Acknowledgements

For more informations:

- Saidi M, EO Gogo, FM Itulya, T Martin, M Ngouajio 2013. Microclimate modification using
eco-friendly nets and floating row covers improves tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) yield
and quality for small holder farmers in East Africa (submitted)
- Gogo EO , M Saidi, FM Itulya, T Martin, M Ngouajio 2013. Eco-friendly nets and floating row
covers reduce pest infestation and improve tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) yield for small
holder farmers in East Africa. Biological Agriculture & Horticulture (submitted)
- Kamal A, E Deltr, Romain Bonafos, T Martin 2013. Repellent effect of an
alphacypermethrin treated net against the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius. Journal of
Economic entomology (submitted)
- Martin T, R Palix, A Kamal, E Deltr, R Bonafos, S Simon, M Ngouajio 2013. A repellent
treated netting as a new technology for protecting vegetable crops. Journal of Economic
Entomology (accepted)
- Muleke EM, M Saidi, FM Itulya, T Martin, M Ngouajio 2013. Enhancing Cabbage Seed
Germination and Seedling Quality Using Eco-Friendly Nets. Agronomy 3, 2.
- Gogo EO, M Saidi, FM Itulya, T Martin, M Ngouajio 2012. Microclimate Modification Using
Eco-Friendly Nets for High Quality Tomato Transplant Production by Small-Scale Farmers in
East Africa. Hort Technology, 22, 292-298.

Thank You
Asante
Merci

o What do we want to achieve:

General information on the project
(8 min)
o What we have accomplished so
far: Project accomplishments
(12 min)
o What remains to be accomplished:
Future activities (5 min)
o Questions ??? (5 min)

Vance

Thibaud

Thibaud
Team

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