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Project information
»Funding dates
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Original grant (2006-2009)
Yr 1: 3/1/2006-2/28/2007 |
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Yr 2: 3/1/2007-2/29/2008 |
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Yr 3: 3/1/2008-2/28/2009 |
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Millet head miner, Heliocheilus
albipunctella De Joannis. |
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»The problem
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L. R.
Br.) is a staple food crop in the Sahelian zone of Africa,
where some of continent's poorest people live in one of the
harshest agricultural environments on earth. The millet head
miner (Heliocheilus albipunctella De Joannis) is the
most important insect pest of pearl millet in the Sahel. It
damages the millet panicle (i.e. the flower head, where the
grain is formed) and has been known to cause complete crop
loss. The current recommendations for controlling this pest
include measures such as delayed planting or the use of commercial
insecticides, which are not very appropriate given the prevailing
climatic and socio-economic conditions.
»The approach
Year 2 workplan: 
English
Developing alternative control methods that can be adopted
by farmers would help to reduce yield loss associated with
the pest and have a noticeable impact on increasing millet
production in the region. This project will conduct participatory
research to devise an integrated management plan for the millet
head miner, focusing on biological control, alternative chemical
controls, and resistant varieties. The biological control
research will evaluate the costs and benefits of farmer-based
breeding and local release of an effective natural enemy,
the parasitoid Habrobracon henetor Say, as well as
attempt to identify other useful, complementary biocontrol
agents. The alternative chemical control research will focus
on evaluating the efficacy of locally available botanical
extracts. The team also plans to screen pearl millet and evaluate
their relative resistance to the pest.
»The goals
1. Introduce parasitoid breeding and release bags to farmers
in regions of high MHM infestation.
2. Inventory and evaluate other natural enemies of MHM for
their potential use as biocontrol agents.
3. Evaluate the efficacy of locally available botanical extracts
against MHM.
4. Screen pearl millet varieties for MHM resistance.
5. Train producers and extension personnel in the best MHM
strategies.
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Millet head miner damage. |
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Investigators
»Partner institutions
»Investigators at INRAN
(*=project leader)
Dr. Baoua Ibrahim*
»Investigators at IER
Mamadou N'Diaye
»Investigators at INERA
Dr. Malick Bâ
»Investigators at IITA
Dr. Manuelle Tamò
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Annual progress reports
Click the links below for annual progress reports.
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Publications
None listed as of
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