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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. 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.
Additional Materials on the African Herbicide Project and Report 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 Realizing Enhanced Agricultural Productivity (R.E.A.P.) Newsletter: R.E.A.P. Volume 1 Issue 1: Giving African Agriculture a Boost 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:
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