Challenge
Striga (witchweed) is an increasingly destructive invasive parasitic weed on 40 million farms, affecting 300 million people, across sub-Saharan Africa. Attacking the roots of crops like maize, sorghum, millet, cowpea and upland rice, it depletes crop yield by 20-100%, resulting in a lack of food and income for farmers. Up to 50 million hectares of African croplands show Striga infestation, causing $9 billion in crop loss annually. Striga is considered the #1 pest threat in African food security.
Description
We have developed a biological herbicide, FoxyT14, to control Striga. It uses three strains of Fusarium oxysporum f.s. strigae to attack the weed. The technology is host-specific and affordable, and has shown significant yield increases in trials. After successful proof of concept trials in 2014-2015, we initiated regulatory protocol for our product registration. This included tox/ecotox studies by the University of Nairobi and a series of trials by third party implementers from 2016-2019. Our product, trademarked KichawiKill in Kenya, received provisional commercial registration in March 2021. We have launched distribution in four counties in western Kenya.
Outcomes
Launched distribution in four counties in western Kenya after provisional commercial registration in March 2021. Significant yield increases observed in trials by 500 smallholder maize farmers in western Kenya.
