African Association of Agricultural Economists. Shaping the Future of African
Agriculture for Development: The Role of Social Scientists. Proceedings of the Inaugural
Symposium, 6 to 8 December 2004, Grand Regency Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
Economics of Insecticide use and Potential for Bt Maize Varieties in the Control of Stalkborer in
Kenya.
J. M. Wanyama1, Hugo de Groote2, Mose L. O1., Odendo M3. Ouma J. O4,Owuor G5., Lutta M6., Ndung’u
J.7 and Mutoko M. C1.
Joseph M. Wanyama, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, KARI Kitale
P.O. Box 450, Kitale, Kenya, Tel. 0325-30480
E-mail 1: jmasindektl@yahoo.com, Email 2: irmaktl@africaonline.co.ke
Abstract: Maize is the staple food crop and source of income for majority of the Kenyan population and
many sub-Saharan African countries. The increasing Kenyan population demands an increase in maize
production if intermittent food deficits have to be averted. Since the introduction of improved maize
varieties in mid-1960, the start of Green Revolution period, maize yields increased drastically up to 1970s
and started declining from 1980’s to-date. The key contributory factors are nutrient mining, sub-optimal
input use and insect pest damage. Of the insect pests, stalk borer is of economic importance. Currently,
KARI and CIMMYT are developing maize varieties that are tolerant to stalk borer damage. In order to
evaluate the potential impact of these interventions economics of stalk borer control at farm level was
evaluated. Surveys complemented with on-farm trials were executed in six major maize growing zones of
Kenya. Farmers were randomly selected and a sample-frame established after which a total of 1854
households were randomly selected using random sampling technique. Each household was interviewed
using structured questionnaire. Data on method of stalk borer control and the type insecticides used was
collected. Partial budget and economic surplus models were used. The results indicated that very few
farmers control stalk borer in maiz