Integrated Weed Management
At the International Weed Science Congress in Prague, scientists from 57 countries came together to discuss the way forward in weed control and possible solutions against the global problem of weed resistance.
With the number of herbicide-resistant weeds growing dramatically worldwide, scientists at the Congress agreed that breakthrough innovations in weed research were urgently needed in order to address the severe agricultural problems of today and tomorrow. “It is high time that we speed up research in weed control,” said Hermann Stuebler, Head of Weed Control Research at Bayer, in the opening speech. “In order to prevent new resistances from spreading and preserve the efficacy of current weed control solutions, we need to provide farmers with new tools so that they can diversify their weed control strategies. For many farmers worldwide, new and resistancebreaking herbicides are a question of economic survival.”
In combating weed resistance, most manufacturers must emphasize on innovation, partnerships and dialogue. Main weed research activities should concentrate, on engagement in understanding resistance mechanisms, testing and developing new concepts and tools to manage resistant weeds, and communicating and sharing their knowledge and solutions.
How it Works:
In many poor countries, however, farmers, small and mediumsized enterprises, and research centers do not interact in ways that accelerate the move beyond low value-added subsistence sustainable agriculture.
More than three quarters of smallholder farmers in Kenya and the region are stuck with low yields at every harvesting season in what researchers attribute to a systemic information gap on vital farming techniques. The situation is further exacerbated by the changes in weather which have gone on to depress rainfall and ultimately take a toll on yields. Ironically Kenya is home to dozens of research institutions of international repute that continue to produce groundbreaking innovation and findings. From drought tolerant and high yielding crop varieties to state of the art pest and disease control arsenals, even Kenyan scientists have gone on to win worlds most coveted acclaims.
David Jones A Broadacre Specialist Agronomist at Crop Nutrition Laboratories Ltd.