Paraquat in Samoa is not only helping farmers to provide a staple food but is also enabling taro to become a very important export crop. Ever wonder what fuels the impressive size and power of the awesome Pacific Island rugby players? Look no further than taro. Taro is a tropical starchy root crop which is a staple food in many subsistence communities, particularly in the Pacific islands. And while the rugby team members most likely have a broad selection of meals from which to choose, for many people living in these areas taro is an essential part of their diet.
As a tropical crop, protecting taro from weeds is critical. Weeds thrive in such hot and humid climates, robbing yield. Hand hoeing crops is one option, but, not only is this time consuming and labour intensive, but it means other opportunities, particularly for education in poorer communities, may be missed. Using the right choice of herbicide provides an effective alternative. Weed control is critical in dryland taro, particularly in the first 3 months.
Biodiversity is being encouraged by the adoption of conservation tillage practices, especially no-till farming. Spraying with a non-selective herbicide like paraquat means that weeds can be controlled without the need to plow.
Birds, in particular, are benefiting when fields are not plowed or only lightly cultivated in conservation tillage systems. Leaving stubble and chaff from the previous crop on the soil surface, and undisturbed no-till soil, provides habitats for invertebrates and small wildlife. Whether bird species feed on spilled grain and weed seeds, insects or small...
Farmers in the US have been aware for some time of the threat glyphosate resistant weeds pose to their crops and livelihoods. Now, the public is becoming more aware too after recent media attention following the publication of the US National Research Council’s report: Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States1. The report confirmed the substantial economic and environmental benefits of GM crops, but warned that care was needed to preserve the value of the technology, especially with the threat posed by glyphosate resistant...
Farmers in the mountains of Vietnam can plant maize crops more than two weeks early by using paraquat in a conservation tillage system. Timely operations are essential in growing all crops and paraquat’s unprecedented speed of action is often a huge help to farmers up against the weather or looking for earlier harvests to get the best prices.
Results of research conducted by The Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (NOMAFSI) show that using paraquat for weed control increased maize yields by more than 50%1. Early planting was crucial to...
What is Paraquat?
Paraquat is a herbicide (chemical weed killer) used to control a very broad range of weeds (unwanted plants) in more than 100 crops...
