Locally/home-made organic pest control involves the use of home-made remedies to kill and control pests naturally without harming the crop or the environment. Some of the natural pesticides that farmers can use includes soap water, neem, chilli, vegetable oil spray and garlic. These natural remedies are cheaper than the use of chemicals but should be applied in specific amounts for them to be effective. The field must be kept clean to avoid weeds, which provide habitats for insects and weaker crops that are infected must be removed and disposed of away from the field area to avoid attracting further infestations. It is important to minimise disturbance of soil through digging or tilling if not necessary as this can introduce pests into the soil. Alternative approaches such as intercropping, crop rotation, and push/pull systems can also contribute to preventing the spread of pests. This is a climate smart option as it reduces the contribution of pesticides/insecticides to greenhouse gas emissions, and supports sustainable agricultural productivity. If organic insecticides are not effectively killing insects at the rate the farmer wants/needs, chemical controls can be used to halt pest infestation and avoid complete crop loss. However, chemical control of pests should always be the last resort, as chemical pesticides while often hugely effective, are expensive and must be applied precisely to be effective. Furthermore, if used inaccurately chemical pesticides can contaminate crops and the environment, and can impact the farmers’ health. The use of chemicals destroys natural pest enemies and can lead to pest invasion and resistance to pesticides in future, driving continued reliance on chemicals. For example, ants can be a very effective biological control agent against Fall Armyworm (FAW); however, ant populations will also be affected by pesticides.
To effectively leverage chemical use of organic control measures:
- Organic pesticides must be made based on the type of pests that attack the field along with their productivity rate.
- Equipment needed. Small measures (teaspoons or baking measures), plastic cup, plastic bucket (>1 litre), stirring rod or large spoon/spatula. Spray bottles or back-pack pump spray. Tools used in the field must be cleaned properly to avoid attracting other pests
- When spraying, wear goggles, gloves and disposable masks, and avoid spraying on windy or rainy days.
- It is recommended that any spray is tested before large-scale application. Spray and leave for 24 hours to see if treatment is effective.
a. Basic neem oil spray insecticide: effective against aphids, whiteflies, snails, nematodes, mealybugs, cabbage worms, gnats, moths, cockroaches, flies, termites, mosquitoes, and scale.
- Step 1: Mix 1 cup of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of liquid soap in a plastic beaker or cup (cover and shake thoroughly),
- Step 2: When ready to apply, mix oil spray mix with 1 litre of water,
- Step 3: Pour spray mix into a spray bottles or a back-pack pump spray,
- Step 4: Shake thoroughly, and spray directly on the surfaces of affected plants. The oil coats the bodies of the insects, effectively suffocating them, as it blocks the pores through which they breathe.
- Use mixture within eight-hours.
b. Garlic spray: a general organic insecticide that kills most insects.
- The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 2014. Environmental and Social Management Guideline, Pest and Pesticides Management. Rome, Italy.
- The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 2017. Family Framing Knowledge Platform-How to make natural pesticide. Rome, Italy.
- The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 1992. Towards integrated commodity and pest management in grain storage. Rome, Italy.
Benefits
- The use of organic insecticides promotes biodiversity as it does not kill pest enemies unlike when using chemicals.
- Healthy soil is required by applying compost and manure in order to not attract pests.
- When handling chemicals, health precaution must be in place such as wearing gloves and nose masks to avoid contamination.
Drawbacks
- The natural remedies are cheaper than chemical control, but they do not kill pests as fast as chemicals.
- Inappropriate use of pesticides can be harmful to both farmers and food therefore, pesticide application guidelines must be followed to ensure efficiency.
