An Environmentally Friendly Solution for Papaya Farmers in Kenya
The Kenya Standing Technical Committee on Imports and Exports (KSTCIE) has approved the widespread release of the biological control agent Acerophagus papayae to combat the devastating papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) threatening smallholder farmers’ livelihoods and food security.
The approval follows gradual releases in several counties, including Machakos, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Baringo, Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi, where the pest has caused crop losses of up to 100%. Farmers are advised to incorporate the agent into their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans and remain patient, as the parasitoid can take up to six months to take effect.
Research and Effectiveness of A. papayae
Scientists from CABI, KALRO, KEPHIS, and the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) conducted extensive research to assess the effectiveness of A. papayae. Trials in affected areas demonstrated up to 75% mortality of the papaya mealybug within two years of release, doubling papaya harvests and increasing farmer income by 20%.
Papaya mealybug, originally from Central America, was first detected in Kenya in 2016. The Kenyan authorities are now satisfied with CABI’s evidence of the parasitoid’s efficiency and safety, approving its national release.
Impact and Farmer Involvement
A recent survey in August 2024 found that farmers using the parasitoid reported a more than 100% increase in yields and a significant reduction in chemical pesticide use.
The parasitoids are mass-reared at the CABI-KALRO facility in Muguga and distributed to farmers on special cards that are stapled under papaya leaves. Once released, the parasitoids seek out and parasitize the mealybugs.
Community Role and Adoption
Farmers play a critical role in ensuring the parasitoid’s rapid multiplication by constructing Natural Enemy Field Reservoirs (NEFRs), a technology pioneered by the late CABI scientist Riaz Mahmood in Pakistan.
Dr. Selpha Miller, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Invasive Species Management, emphasized the importance of patience, stating, “The widespread release of Acerophagus papayae is a major step in managing the papaya mealybug. Farmers must be patient while the agent works within their IPM plans.”
The initiative is being funded by the CABI-led PlantwisePlus programme and the Darwin Initiative project, which support over 150 plant clinics in Kenya.
A Partnership Approach
Dr. Johnson Nyasani, Chief Research Scientist at KALRO, highlighted the power of partnerships in tackling agricultural challenges, saying, “The nationwide release of A. papayae showcases successful collaboration in reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.”
Research published in the journal CABI Agriculture and Bioscience revealed that nearly 90% of surveyed farmers expressed positive views about the biocontrol agent, acknowledging its effectiveness at both individual and community levels.
Source- CABI
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