Dissemination of Push-Pull cultivation methods among small-scale farmers through specific promotion of women as users and farmer teachers.

The Push-Pull method is an environmentally friendly technology that improves maize yield and soil fertility. The Push-Pull tactic combines two important components: the egg-laying stem borer moths are repelled by the scent of Desmodium, which is planted in between the maize („Push“). Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is planted around the field, which attracts the moths away from the maize („Pull“). In this way maize yield is increased without the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides.

The napier grass and desmodium plants are also a welcome and healthy additional food source for livestock. Women carry out most of the farming tasks and, moreover, over a third of small farms are run by women. The project recognises these circumstances: great consideration – in terms of optimisation of the methods and dissemination strategies - is given to the discussion of traditional gender roles and the reduction in additional burdens for women; and to the question of adapted, gender-specific knowledge dissemination. In this way the successful Push-Pull method can be efficiently applied by many women farmers who have had no, or only very brief school education.

Integrated expansion of the project »