Curriculum (PDF) - Biovision

the maize growing season. When infection
occurs before and at silking and conditions
are humid and warm, the disease may
cause significant losses in maize production.
Symptoms: Early symptoms are easily
recognized; slightly egg-shaped, watersoaked,
small spots produced on the
leaves. These grow into long, narrow,
spindle-shaped disease areas on the leaf.
They may appear first on lower leaves and
increase in number as the plant develops,
and can lead to complete burning of the
leaves.
Topic 2: Imazapyr-Resistant
(IR) Maize
CIMMYT and KARI have developed a
new approach for striga control in maize.
This technology combines low doses of a
herbicide (Imazapyr), as a seed coat with
herbicide-resistant maize. This prevents
striga from attaching itself to the roots of
maize plant. The herbicide also kills other
surrounding weeds. Extensive on-farm testing
in several countries in Africa has shown
that the herbicide is highly effective. The
treatment leaves a field virtually clear of
emerging striga. This allows intercropping
with legumes and increases yields by up to
three-times. The herbicide does not affect
intercrops when they are planted at least
10 cm from maize hills.
144 | Push-pull curriculum
Trials have shown that IR maize could be
used with the Push-pull system, particularly
in the first season, when the desmodium is
establishing.
Topic 3: Field Day planning
Field day is only five weeks away. There
is a lot of work to do to make it a success.
There are some suggestions in Season 2,
Week 15 that you can use as a guide.
To help you select the member’s farm to
host the field day, we suggest that you use
some or all of the criteria in tables referred
to above.
You will have a lot of things to do. Here
are some suggestions:
1. Assign responsibilities for the field day
2. Tell people about it – the farming
community, colleagues from other field
schools, the provincial administration
(DO, Chief, Assistant Chief, etc.), the
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and
Fisheries Extension staff, NGOs and
CBOs, Church groups, schools, and the
media (posters, radio, newspaper, etc.).
3. Make a programme and agree on the
time, what is to be covered, and stick to
it.
4. Make a budget.
5. Prepare an evaluation sheet.
Benefits of livestock feed (Please keep filling the number of units each week as you cut)
Push-pull
plot
Type of benefit Quantity Unit market price Total value
10 Kg Napier grass (1 Unit)
3 Kg Desmodium (1 Unit)
1 kg Desmodium hay
5 kg Silage (1 unit)
Milk (litre)
Other benefit