Protecting Maize from Pests

Maize

The two biggest destroyers of maize in Kenya are the stem borer moth and a weed called striga.

Stem Borer Moth

The stem borer moth does exactly what is says in the name, it bores into the stems of maize plants and lays its eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae then eat the plant fibre, damaging the plant.

Incredibly, there is a simple solution. It is called push-pull.

The "Push" bit

The parent moth can be pushed away from maize plants by planting desmodium amongst the maize plants. This plant gives off antixenotic allomones, a chemical that drives away the stem borer moth and other insect pests.

The "Pull" bit

A second plant, napier grass (or Uganda grass, elephant grass), attracts the stem borer moth, but kills the eggs and larvae of the moth.

Striga

The Striga weed is a pretty plant with pink flowers, but it is parasitic. The roots search out and attach to the roots of the maize plant, sucking out the goodness, killing the maize plant.

Desmodium gives off a chemical from its root that will kill the roots of the striga plant, preventing it from damaging the maize plant.