Baseline Study of Striga Control using IR Maize in Western Kenya

3.2.1 Fertiliser and pesticidesFarmers apply inorganic fertiliser and pesticides to their crops, especially maize. Results inTable 3.2 indicate that few respondents used inorganic fertiliser during the two growingseasons under study. In Nyanza province, only eight farmers reported on fertiliser applicationduring the 2005 long rains. More farmers (25%) in Western province applied fertiliser to theirmaize. During the short rains, fewer farmers invest in inorganic fertiliser. The rates offertiliser applied to maize are also very low: about one 50 kg-bag per ha for Nyanza and two50-kg bags for Western during the long rains. These quantities would correspond to about13kg N/ha for Nyanza and 26kg N/ha for Western for the most commonly commercialisedcompound fertiliser, Calcium Ammonium Nitrogen (CAN) in the ratio 26:0:0. Maize oftenrequires rates of 90 to 120kg N/ha to expect good yields of about 4–6tons/ha. The quantitiesapplied in western Kenya are just symbolic. The quantity of fertiliser applied to other crops iseven worse than that of maize.Table 3.2. Fertiliser and pesticide use in western KenyaLong rains 2005 Short rains 2004Nyanza Western Nyanza WesternInorganic fertiliser in maize (kg/ha) 53.3 (8) 97.0 (109) 38.8 (4) 84.0 (61)Inorganic fertiliser in other crops (kg/ha) 34.6 (8) 55.1 (22) 32.6 (10) 22 (10)Pesticide in maize (l/ha) 3.7 (10) 0.9 (30) 0.9 (7) 0.2 (14)Pesticide in other crops (l/ha) 1.4 (26) 2.3 (43) 1.2 (21) 3.1 (31)Figures in brackets represent number of respondentsThe proportion of farmers who applied pesticides in post harvest to protect the produce (suchas Skana or Spinto dust against weevils in maize grains) is also minimal. In contrast tofertiliser rates for maize, the doses used for pesticides seem to be optimal (at least for the2005 long rains), provided that the information given refers to the pure chemical before itsdilution. In summary, there is little done to invest in external inputs for the purpose of theintensification of crop production.3.2.2 Seed useThe results are shown for Nyanza province only (Table 3.3) since the patterns in seed use forWestern province are similar. Quantity of seed used (kg/ha) does not often comply with therecommendations by extension services. For maize, the provincial average of 34kg/ha duringthe 2005 long rains is higher than 25kg/ha recommended for this crop. In Siaya, the quantitiessown for maize were almost double the recommendations. In Kisumu, it was the oppositewith less than 50% of recommendations. The comments made for maize also apply to othercrops (Table 3.3). This shows that farmers do not sow the quantities of seed required toobtain an optimal occupation of the field by the crop. A lower density of plants does not payback on the investments made to open up a new field and to optimise the utilisation of soilnutrients by crops. A higher density leads to overexploitation of natural resources andcompetition of crops. In both situations, the resulting crop productivity can only be low. Thefield management of a new crop technology (such as IR maize) is as important as the geneticmaterial itself.22