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Kenyan Farmer's Moth Battle: Organic Victory
13 Sep
Summary
- Phyllis Nduva switched from pesticides to IPM after moth infestation.
- Her harvest losses dropped from over 60% to under 20%.
- Organic fruit now fetches 400 shillings, a significant premium.
Phyllis Nduva, a 72-year-old farmer in Kenya's Makueni County, found her mango and citrus orchard devastated by the false codling moth starting in 2014. Initial attempts with chemical pesticides proved ineffective, leading to over 60% harvest loss in 2016.
Driven to find alternatives, Nduva embraced Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a method combining traps, natural predators, and selective pesticide use. This approach not only reduced her crop losses to below 20% but also saw the return of pollinators and improved fruit quality.
Nduva's adoption of IPM represents a significant shift from Kenya's increasing pesticide use, which reached over 15,600 tonnes in 2019. Her organic produce now commands a premium of 400 shillings per kilogram, a stark contrast to the 50 shillings for pesticide-treated fruits, boosting export marketability.
Inspired by Nduva's success, approximately 600 farmers in Makueni County have adopted IPM. Despite initial costs, such as 6,000 shillings for augmentorium bags, the county is now providing tools to ease adoption, promoting food safety and ecological recovery.
