Push–Pull technology

For large scale and small scale maize farmers to realize efficient production,there needs to be minimal infection in their crop which can be achieved by adopting the Push–Pull technology

What is push–pull technology?

It is a strategy for controlling agricultural pests that uses a repellent "push" intercrop and an attractive trap "pull" plant

push–pull technology

How it works

How it works

This is achieved by planting napier grass on field edges and desmodium between maize rows.The desmodium between the maize rows repel insects while the napier grass on the field edges attract insects to lay eggs but produce a sticky compound that disables larvae.The eggs do not metamorphosis into larvae because the nappier does not guarantee ideal conditions for development.

Advantages

• Control of stem borers using pesticides is not only expensive and harmful to the environment, but usually ineffective as the chemicals cannot reach deep inside the plant stems where stem borer larvae reside
• Farmers using Push-Pull technology for pest control reap three harvests: maize, napier grass and desmodium
• Desmodium is a leguminous crop which improves soil fertility, reduces evaporation by acting as mulch helping in water conservation,.