ICIPE

ICIPE is an exemplary science based international organisation working in Africa for Africa. It stands out as the only primary researcher on Arthropods in Africa. This is through a project called ICIPE African Insect Science for Food and Health established in 1970. Note that in a line up of all creations, Arthropods are the most diverse and abundant form of life on earth. The work on the hands of International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) is therefore no child’s play. Basically, their role is to create and maintain safer environments, maximize agricultural productivity, improve health and living conditions while sustaining the eco-system.

Headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya.

The objectivity of their work revolves around conducting researches, developing solutions that are non-polluting, non-resistant, effective and affordable and available in both rural and urban areas. The project for rich insect biodiversity is also selective to ensure that regions are subjected to conditions that suit them. In this way, they open opportunities to use, transfer and teach ICIPE’s technologies. Individual researchers and institutions are also empowered. The youth are harnessed as well.  

Arthropods cause diseases and reduce output so opting to handle them is a rather questionable choice to most of us. Well, turns out what we may consider poison, turned out to be ICIPE’s meat for they have been at it for over 40 years.

THE 4Hs PARADIGM

They have strategised their work in four divisions: Animal Health, Environmental Health, Human Health, and Plant Health.

Environmental Health Division

Increase in population is ever the beginning of problems in any area. It brings along increase in demand for land for housing, pasture, water and farming. Pollution comes in and signs of adverse climate change begin to show. The proliferation of rural to urban migration is also another problem. Overcrowding in any area leads to outbreaks of diseases and epidemics. Eventually, there is degradation of natural habitats. ICIPE introduced participatory projects to manage forests, conserve flora and fauna and spear head commercial farming. In this way, the people get to be a part of the activities so that come the future when ICIPE is away, they can continue to nurture their environment independently. Good examples can be the introduction of traditional and medicinal plants Ocimum kilimandscharicum and Mondia whytei, in the area adjacent to Kakamega forest.

They also build resilient farming systems by encouraging use of proper fertilizers in ample amount.

Plant Health Division

The battle here is against the notoriety of pests. Biological control and management of pests are introduced according to the need of the farmer and condition of the land before and after harvest. The most affected are horticultural and agricultural grounds. Behavior modifying and anthropodactive botanical chemicals are used. They control weeds such as striga.  Research done by ICIPE confirms that the chemicals are best to tame the trans-boundary migratory pests like the locusts, army worms which affect staple crops like maize sorghum. Horticultural crops like tomatoes cabbages, kales, beans and cashew are also guarded against the Fruit Fly, Leafminer, Thrips and Red Spider Mites .This management of plants eases the effects of climate change and food insecurity. It also increases outputs for import and export.

Animal Health Division

ICIPE tackle pests and diseases in livestock through development of technologies for the sustainable management of the vectors. The focus is mainly on tsetse flies (vectors of animal and human trypanosomosis), and ticks (which among others transmit East Coast fever).They device repellants, odor baits and biological controls.

These blood feeding insects will otherwise transmit fatal diseases to our sources of milk meat draught power hides social status and wealth.

A good example may be the Synthetic repellents, odour baits, anti-tick pasture plants introduced to Maasai of East Africa and sedentary livestock keepers. The savanna fly is also used to counter tsetse flies which is, apparently, 99% effective.

Human Health Division

People work to earn for survival and care for their families. Some of the jobs expose them to condition hazardous to their health and that o f the community. ICIPE researched to reveal the circumstances that lead to poor health status. Their case study was mainly on Malaria and the African sleeping sickness. The latter has in fact been mentioned by World Health Organisation as one of the most re-emerging yet neglected disease in tropical Africa. Hand in hand with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) they launched the Integrated Vector Management (IVM) programme in Harare, Botswana. This facilitated the reviewing of the malaria control policy when in 2008 and control of the riveter tsetse group. They also made effort to have a biological control for the human arboviral infection in the Horn of Africa. It also collaborates with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), local universities like Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and other non-governmental organisations to research on control of the deadliest malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.

Examples can be the findings in Kakamega where the farmers were found to be sleeping in their farms to guard their produce. This exposes them to Malaria among other infections. Hippopotami grazing in Rusinga Island was also found to open ground for mosquito breeding since the animals’ steps are deep and when it rains, water is collected there.

Mediterranean fruit fly

ICIPE has indeed brought out the potential in Africa in very big ways. Visit Kasala State, Sudan and learn about the ICIPE beekeeping enterprise development. This has helped increase yields from beans, oranges through pollination service. They also obtain honey.

In Mozambique, the fruit fly research has helped increase production of mangoes. This African fruit project has also been assimilated in other East West and Southern African countries. Push pull system was initiated in Kenya Uganda and Tanzania to enhance livestock keeping while increasing soil fertility. This has been of great benefit to small scale cereal growers. The battle against tsetse flies is being implemented via NGU trap and Synthetic repellents. Blue colour is attractive to the insect so the trap is blue and so is the strap tied around the neck of the cattle. The NGU trap has a black target which traps the insect and caught in the top into a plastic container when the heat finally kills it. The scientists have also developed A Metarhizium anisophalie based product for sustainable production of vegetables in Africa. It is being commercialized by The Real PPM Company Limited for thrips.

Summarily the role played by ICIPE in collaboration with forestry and energy sectors in African countries cannot be ignored. They can comfortably be called the mother of improvement in the tropics. Their mission to alleviate poverty, ensure food security and overall health status of the people, has yielded abundantly through the years.