LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) plans to develop natural pesticides to control environmental degradation in Malawi.
LUANAR Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kaunda said this on Wednesday in Lilongwe during a two-day symposium organized by the Agro-Ecological Hub in Malawi.
The symposium was organized to discuss challenges and solutions on how to manage the environment for improved food systems in the country.
LUANAR Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kaunda said the institution is planning to develop natural pesticides.
Kaunda said there are a number of diseases that have come due to weather patterns as a result of climate change.
“Some of these diseases are resistance to certain pesticides which are applied so the research being done is to identify pesticides that can control pests here,” he said.
Kaunda believed that in the end there will be solutions that are homegrown, adding that the importation of such expensive pesticides will also be reduced.
Controller of Agriculture Extension and Technical Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Alfred Mwenifumbo, expressed the importance to focus on and reflect the current challenges for improved productivity.
“New pest problems such as Fall Armyworm and resurgence of soybean rust have slowed down productivity in recent years,” he said.
Mwenifumbo said most important is the fact that the country has been compelled to rely on chemical pesticides. saying the pesticides kill a broad range of non-target insects and microbial life including natural enemies of most pests.
The symposium was under the theme, “Rolling out Agro-Ecological Practices to combat pests, climate change, and Environmental Degradation for Sustainable Food Systems”.