Solution

PushPull as solution for Fall Armyworm in Africa

This solution addresses Stemborer pests, Striga weed, soil fertility, fall armyworm, increase yield in Subsaharan Africa for farmers, women, private sector

Problem Description

The PushPull technology was initially designed to control striga weeds and stemborer pest on cereal crops in Africa. The technology addresses issues such as low soil fertility, low yield and most importantly it provides fodder for livestock. Later on after adapting the technology to different challenges eg climate change, it is now found to be able to control Fall armyworm a menace to food security and livelihood of millions of farmers in Africa. Today the technology has over 150000 adopters which remains low compared to the overall numbers of farmers on the continent.

Story

Many people are curious to know whether the technology really works and it controls Striga weed and stemborer, Also whether it increases yield and that controls Fall Armyworm. Overall can the technology improve the livelihood of farmers and is push-pull is environmentally friendly?
PushPull was successfully introduced in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania. We are currently disseminating it in Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Rwanda. The technology works and delivers the expected outputs.

Photos

Resources

Website
Microsite
A climate-adapted push-pull system effectively controls fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith), in maize in East Africa
Evidence that the Push-Pull technology controls Fall Armyworm

Organisations Involved

The McKnight Foundation

Contributed By

Saemi Ledermann, George Washington University
Stefan Diener Diener, Biovision Foundation

Solution Stage

One of the 7 stages of an innovation. Learn more

STAGE	SPECIALIST SKILLS REQUIRED	EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES	RISK LEVEL AND HANDLING	FINANCE REQUIRED	KINDS OF EVIDENCE GENERATED	GOAL
Growing scaling and spreading6	Strong leadership, management, implementation skills	Business or organisational growth Franchising Licensing Legislation Spreading ideas Transferring practice	Fidelity assessments may be important Strong capacity needed to ensure transfer of practice MEDIUM	Equity, loans, payment by results, social impact bonds HIGH	Evidence derived from evaluations in multiple sites, and independently run randomised control trials	Innovation or impact at scale

Submitted By

Saliou Niassy