Solving Africa's Weed Problem: African Herbicide Project

About The Project:

Food production problems in Africa are once again front page news. However one of the most serious threats to African food production- the problem of weeds competing with crops-is not being addressed in the ongoing assessments. Currently, African farmers lose 20-100% of their potential crop production due to uncontrolled weeds. The primary method of weed control by smallholder farmers in Africa is hand weeding with short-handled tools; backbreaking work done primarily by women. Because of labor cost and shortage and other demands on farmers time, not enough weeding is being done or is being done too late to prevent serious yield losses. Farmers are reluctant to apply fertilizer because weeds would be further stimulated and even more hand weeding would be required. Research has shown that, if smallholders used herbicides, hand weeding time could be virtually eliminated. Farmers would have significant time availability to plant additional crops, apply fertilizers, and harvest more crops.

News Conference:

On Thursday December 10th the CropLife Foundation held a press conference to release a new report entitled, Africa's Weed Problem: Increasing Crop Production and Improving the Lives of Women." This report chronicles the trials and tribulations African women have to endure every year in order to control weeds in smallholder farms. This backbreaking labor ruins women's spines and keeps children from receiving proper schooling. The Foundation hopes its report will raise awareness on this issue and will spur governments, NGOs, and internatonal development agencies to further investigate the issue of weed control in Africa.

You may find all the materials given out at the press conference here

Or you can download them individually:

Press Release
Report
Biographies
Slide Show shown at the News Conference
Summary of the Report
Year One Progress Report of African Herbicide Project
How to Stay Up to Date with the Foundation
Weeds in Human Affairs in Sub-Saharan Africa - Akobundo

Additional Materials on the African Herbicide Project and Report

CropLife Foundation Flyer

Solving Africa’s Weed Problem: Increasing Crop Production & Improving the Lives of Women

Weed Science Society of America Press Release: Weeds Constrain the Quality of Life of African Women

CropLife Foundation Press Release: CropLife Foundation to Demonstrate Value of Crop Protection Technology in Improving African Agriculture

World Food Prize Presentation

Delta Farm Press Newspaper, October 31, 2008: Teaching Herbicide Use Could Expand African Food Output

Demonstrating the Value of Herbicides for Small Holder Farmers: Summary of Year one Project Activities

Realizing Enhanced Agricultural Productivity (R.E.A.P.) Newsletter:

R.E.A.P. Volume 1 Issue 1: Giving African Agriculture a Boost

R.E.A.P. Volume 2 Issue 2

Video of a farmer's Field Day in Kenya in which farmers are being taught the potential benefits of herbicide use on their farms:

Part 1:

Part 2: