Farmers want pest-resistant maize

Small-scale farmers from Dowa have asked maize breeders to come up with pest-resistant varieties.

Speaking during the launch of a new maize variety, DK777, by Monsanto Malawi, the farmers said they face challenges accessing information on pest management.

A representative of the farmers, Bodington Kadzipalire, said crop-damage by fall armyworms threaten to plunge the country into hunger.

He said: “I think it is high time plant breeders produced a maize variety that is going to withstand pests such as fall armyworms. I am yet to get useful information on managing this pest because this growing season I went as far as using soil to suffocate the armyworms in my maize field.”

Kadzipalire said the soil did reduce the damage by pest, but it could have been better if farmers were equipped with information on chemicals that can deal with the armyworms better.

Monsanto Malawi technology development manager Alick Maulawo assured the farmers that the seed company invests a lot in plant sciences and that the company’s research department is working on a solution to the fall armyworms problem.

“I don’t want to say much, but be assured that our researchers are working tirelessly to have a lasting solution to fall armyworms. We invest a lot of resources and energy in making sure that we deliver high quality technologies to farmers,” he said.

Bvumbwe Research Station is currently studying chemicals for fall armyworms management.