Biopesticides " A Cost " that safeguards long-term ecological Health.

African agriculture largely relies heavily on artificial fertilizers and pesticides, whose use has more than doubled in the last four years. Due to lack of information and proper training, many farmers are unaware that these ?Biopesticides?are important alternatives to?synthetic?pesticides. Biopesticides are derived from naturally existing materials such as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. Advantages –

1.?????? produce little toxic residue

2.?????? minimal risk to human health,

3.?????? they have zero or low re-entry and handling interval ?????? ?

Disadvantages

1.?????? slower rate of kill compared with conventional chemical pesticides

2.?????? shorter persistence in the environment

3.?????? susceptibility to unfavorable environmental conditions

4. quite expensive to procure

Biopesticides can be categorized based on how they are derived;

1.?Microbial?and Macrobial?biopesticides- Microbials?are micro-organisms?such as bacteria,?fungi, viruses, or their products that have pesticidal effects. Macrobial is macro-organisms such as predatory mites, beetles, and nematodes which are?natural enemies?of harmful pests. Microbial and Microbial can further be defined as?parasitoids, predators, and pathogens.Examples in the Kenya market include ;

Example 1.

Trade Name: HALT 50WP Wettable Powder

Active Ingredient :Bacillus thuringiensis?var Kurstaki 5% w/w (Bacterium)

Uses: Biological insecticide for the control of Diamondback moth (DBM) on Cabbages and Caterpillars on Roses WHO Classification not applicable for biopesticides. Distributor: Osho Chemical Industries Ltd.

2. Botanical biopesticides- These are natural plant products?such as neem, pyrethrum, etc. Examples in the Kenya market include;

Example 1 :

Trade Name: MINEM XY16 Liquid Emulsion

Active Ingredient : Carvacrol 2% w/v

Uses : Bionematicide for control of root-knot nematodes in Tomatoes by drenching on planting media. WHO Class U - Unlikely to present hazard under normal use Green Color Band. Distributor: Amiran Kenya Ltd.

Example 2 :

Trade Name: SUPERFINE PYRETHRUM POWDER 1.3% w/w

Active Ingredient: Pyrethrins 1.3% w/w

Uses: bioInsecticide, raw material for manufacturing of mosquito coils, and insecticidal dust a wide range of insect pests. Distributor: Pyrethrum Board (K)

3.?Biochemical biopesticides?- These are naturally occurring chemicals that control pests. These include insect sex pheromones, enzymes (proteins), natural plant regulators, and insect growth regulators. Examples in Kenya include:

Example 1.

Trade Name: ALLTRACK Rubber Septum impregnated with synthetic Female Spodoptera frugiperda?pheromone

Active Ingredient : Z)-9-Tetradecenyl acetate + (Z)-7-Dodecenyl acetate 0.57%

Uses: Pheromone?for monitoring and mass trapping of false codling moth in chili peppers (For use with Delta trap and sticky paper). WHO Class U Unlikely to present a hazard in normal use Green color band. Distributor: Kenya Biologics Ltd

Example 2 .

Trade Name: Pherogen Dispenser SpoFr

Active Ingredient : (Z)-9-Tetradecen-1-yl acetate (Z)-11-Hexadecen-1-yl acetate

Uses: Semiochemical against ?Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in maize and baby corn. Distributor: Provivi Ltd.

Small-scale farmers contribute the largest food supply in Africa but are the least enlightened on working alternatives to synthetic pesticides in agriculture production.

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