Push-Pull: Fighting pests while improving nutrition

Small farmers in Kenya and Tanzania are using Push-Pull to successfully control pests. This organic farming method also has a positive effect on the soil and the climate. Above all, however, it increases harvest yields and nutritional diversity.

Context: fighting pests and strengthening the soil

By planting Desmodium between rows of maize, millet and vegetables, pests are repelled (“pushed”) and at the same time attracted (“pulled”) by Napier grass or Brachiaria planted around the fields. Napier grass, Brachiaria and Desmodium are all healthy supplemental feed for livestock and help retain moisture in the soil – and they help increase soil fertility: all three contribute to depositing more carbon in the soil (due in part to their large root masses), but they are also useful for sustaining soil structure and living organisms. In addition, Desmodium fixes atmospheric nitrogen and pumps it into the ground, which has a positive effect on the soil’s nitrogen balance (very important for maize and millet).
Through this innovative approach, small farmers can control pests, reduce the soil from drying out and improve soil fertility naturally.

Goals: Push-Pull - Scientifically proven for healthy nutrition and greater safety

- The benefits of push-pull are scientifically proven.
- Smallholder farmers integrate the Push-Pull approach in cultivating maize, vegetables and millet.
- The health of people involved in the project improves thanks to a more balanced diet and food and income security.

At a glance

Project name:

Push-Pull: Diversity through Participatory Research
Beneficiaries:
Kenya
Tanzania

Project budget in CHF :

902022
Participants:
Smallholder farmers
Project Officer:
Project phase:
2023–2025 (Phase 2)
Partner organizations:

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Kenya
Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT)

The project addresses the following SDGs from UN Agenda 2030:

This project is supported by SDC

Region
Topics

Impact to date: successful spread and extended application for higher yields

Biovision has been supporting projects to spread Push-Pull in Kenya since 2006. The approach was applied later in Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia, and since 2016 also in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Burundi and Burkina Faso.
While the method was originally developed for cultivating maize and millet, our project partner, icipe, began integrating vegetables with maize and millet in the Push-Pull system in 2020. These trials have shown that the method provides significant protection against several major vegetable pests, thus leading to increased yields.

Facts and figures about the project

small farmers will be trained in Push-Pull
small farmers in Kenya and Tanzania aim to increase their yields and incomes through the successful application of Push-Pull

Next steps: focus on soil and climate

Through workshops, we will bring 1500 smallholder farmers in closer contact with the Push-Pull method for maize and millet cultivation and adapt it to different ecosystems and cultivation methods. We also ensure knowledge exchange between project participants and promote participatory approaches in village communities.
The integration of vegetables into the system creates more food diversity for smallholder families– and also indirectly for people who can buy the products at the market. We want to promote knowledge about healthy diets and respective behavioural change through several workshops and informational materials.
Together with the farmers, Biovision wants to set up 40 trial and demonstration fields where we will test the effect of Push-Pull on different types of vegetables. We want to find three suitable vegetable varieties that thrive best under local conditions and that are also appealing for sale.

Learn more about Push-Pull in this video

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To support this project or get further information, please contact

Sharon Nehrenheim
Team lead Partnerships
+41 44 512 58 13

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