With
pepper and wood ash mixture and make money from pepper
Did
you know that pepper and wood ash can be used to kill stalk
borer and to generate income for your family?
Why
you can use pepper and ash mixture for stalk borer control
Scientists
and farmers in West Pokot, Trans-Nzoia and Uasin Gishu Districts
in the North Rift Valley region of Kenya have shown that
controlling stalk borer by using pepper and ash mixture
is better than using Dipterex or Bulldock because:
-
It
costs only about Kshs 50 per acre for I application.
-
You
get the same yields when you use pepper and ash mixture
as when you use Dipterex and Bulldock.
-
The
mixture is safe for the user and the environment.
-
You
can make extra money by growing pepper.
-
Pepper
can be used to control other crop pests.
How
to make an effective mixture
- You
can buy pepper powder for about Kshs 5 per spoonful in the
market, but it is cheaper to plant your own.
- When
the fruits are ripe, dry them and make a powder by either
grinding or pounding,
then removing the big particles.
- Apply
the mixture from the container by shaking it once into each
plant funnel.
- If
you do not have an old insecticide container you can use
your fingers to apply. A pinch of the mixture per plant
is enough, but remember to wash your hands after you have
applied the mixture.
Follow
this simple method and get more maize.
When
to apply
For
good stalk borer control with pepper and ash mixture:
- Plant
early at least 2 weeks before on-set of rains.
- Look
for stalk borer damage every 3 days, starting 2 weeks after
plants emerge in the lower drier areas like West Pokot,
and 3-4 weeks in the medium, higher altitude areas like
Trans-Nzoia and Uasin Gishu.
- Apply
the mixture after you see a few holes on the leaves. If
you see more holes later then apply the mixture again.
Compiled
by JN Methu, EM Kiruiro, AN
Abate
KARI Headquarters Library
resource.center@kari.org
KARI/EMBU PO Box 27 Embu
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