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 This
booklet calls for a comprehensive campaign to eradicate Striga from
Africa’s maize croplands. Striga is a parasitic weed preying upon
cereal crops that has infested 2.5 million hectares of maize. This
biological invasion results in economic losses of over US $1 billion per
year and is a leading cause of food insecurity and rural stagnation. For
decades, Africa’s small-scale farmers were powerless to control this
menacing plant parasite but recent technological breakthroughs are now
available to reverse this situation. These new technologies include the
development of herbicide-resistant and Striga-tolerant maize
varieties and the cultivation of companion legumes that suppress Striga
and neutralise its seed in the soil. Past experience suggests that new
technologies alone are insufficient to effect change but must rather be
incorporated into a well coordinated effort that involves priority
setting, capacity building, farmer empowerment and commercial investment.
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Striga infestation in a farmer's field in western Kenya
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Guidelines for
conducting Striga eradication in maize fields have been developed.
We suggest it be first initiated in maize production areas of eastern,
southern and western Africa because maize farmers there are best
positioned to purchase necessary farm inputs and market resulting crop
surpluses. National research systems must be assisted to better
characterise, map and monitor Striga infestation and to adjust and
validate introduced technical approaches. Extension information targeting
grassroots organisations must be produced and distributed. National seed
producers require assistance in obtaining speedy regulatory approval and
licensing of necessary crop varieties. Stewardship programs that assure
public acceptance, product quality and equitable returns must be
installed. Moreover, it is essential that coercive measures, such as
quarantines, penalties and mandatory field operations that proved
successful in more developed settings are not imposed upon Africa’s poor
smallholders victimised by Striga, rather incentives must be
provided so that households become ready adopters of new Striga
eradication practices.
Striga
eradication requires that very different partners work together toward a
difficult common goal. Farmers must view themselves not as victims of
Striga but rather as front-line cadres in the war against it. Rural
households must be better positioned to assure acceptable returns to
investment in new Striga management technologies. Farmer organisations are
encouraged to voice their concerns about Striga and to train their
members in the emerging opportunities for eradication. National
agricultural research systems must assign greater importance and expertise
to this problem. The private sector must appreciate the investment
potential for producing and distributing Striga control products.
Policymakers must view the threat posed by Striga as a correctable
situation and include Striga management within larger agendas for
rural development. Donors should assign greater priority to the management
of Striga in Africa and recognise that its eradication is
consistent with other emerging paradigms for African economic recovery.
Individuals and
organisations committed to eradicate Striga
and interested in
copies of the full publication
are encouraged to
contact AATF for more information on our planned eradication initiative
(Email: aatf@aatf-africa.org.
Website: www.aatf-africa.org).
More information on Striga is available at
www.africancrops.net/striga.
Comments about this news article can also posted and shared through the
Pests and Diseases Forum of the
African Crops Message and Discussion Board
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