Push-pull technology enhances resilience to climate change and prevents land degradation: Perceptions of adopters in western Kenya

Elsevier

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Abstract: Climate change and land degradation adversely affect food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Smallholder farmers are the most affected. Therefore,it is imperative to identify technologies that boost resilience to climate change,and restore lands. Push-pull technology is among proposed solutions. This technology controls stem borers,fall armyworm,striga,mycotoxins; improves availability of nitrogen and phosphorus,and stores increased carbon in biomass and soils. Though much has been published about push-pull technology,there is a lean in publications about how this technology can help smallholder farmers to cope with climate change and variability. Here,we present perceptions of adopters of push-pull technology in western Kenya with regard to climate change and land degradation,and discuss reasons it should be adopted widely. We compared push-pull and other maize-based cropping systems in western Kenya,through interviews. Push-pull technology produces 0.3–1.1 ?t more maize ha?1 compared to maize-bean intercrop,and maize monocrop when the season is drier than normal. Additionally, push-pull provides 3.6–9.8 ?t more fodder during drought-stricken seasons. Push-pull technology covers 70% of the soil surface compared to 20% cover found in maize-bean intercrop and maize monocrop. In push-pull farms,150–280 ?kg nitrogen,13–24 ?kg phosphorus and 370–470 ?kg potassium can be recycled through biomass and this is five times greater than the potential for maize-bean intercrop and maize monocrop. There is need for wide adoption of push-pull technology to increase resilience of farmers to climate change and restore degraded lands.