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Ua Kayongo Hybrid Maize
A New Approach to Controlling Parasitic Striga for Kenyan Maize Producers |
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Mobilizing Kenyan Farmers Against Striga!
Striga, popularly known as Kayongo (Luo) or Oluyongo (Luhya), is a parasitic weed that destroys cereal crops, particularly maize, leading to food insecurity in thousands of households. Striga feeds upon the sugars, mineral nutrients and moisture of its host and may result in complete crop loss under the worst of conditions. One plant produces numerous small seeds that are incorporated into the soil during tillage and remain dormant for many years. These seeds are also spread by dirty shoes and digging tools or by livestock and soil erosion. Striga should be hand-weeded and, together with affected crop residues, burned and buried to control its spread.
A new maize hybrid, Ua Kayongo that is coated with StrigawayTM herbicide will soon be introduced in western Kenya to control Striga infestation in maize. The herbicide kills germinating Striga as it attempts to parasitize maize. Ua Kayongo is planted and managed much in the same way as other maize varieties by using recommended tillage, spacing, fertilizer and regular weeding. Ua Kayongo, however, cannot be planted in the same hole as intercropped legumes and farmers should thoroughly wash their hands after handling it, to avoid contaminating other seeds with the StrigawayTM herbicide.
Farmers in western Kenya will soon have access to this new technology and are encouraged to combine Ua Kayongo with other Striga management technologies. The Ua Kayongo seeds will become commercially available to Kenyan farmers through Kenya Seed, Lagrotech Seeds and Western Seed companies prior to 2005-2006 short rains through existing retail outlets. |
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Format Home l Striga Home l Mobilizing Farmers l Striga Threats l Know your Enemy l First Defense Striga Management l Ua Kayongo l Establish Ua Kayongo l Questions on Striga Striga Swahili l Striga Luo l Striga Luhya l Contact Details © 2005.
African Agricultural
Technology Foundation's (
AATF
Striga Management Project ). |
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