Insect Resistant Maize

Insect Resistant Maize

Author: Jurg Burgi

Main Description
Many poor farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa suffer heavily from crop losses due to the stem borer insect pest. Insecticides are often unaffordable and the ‘insect resistant maize for Africa’ (IRMA) project was developed to produce resistant maize that could adapt to different climates through conventional breeding or the controversial use of genetic engineering. The independent author gives his impartial description of the project, providing balanced arguments on this debate about agricultural development policy and the use of modern plant breeding techniques.

Readership
Researchers and students, development agencies, universities, NGOs and biotechnology companies.

Main Contents
• Introduction
• Excursus on Kenya
• The Prehistory
• Biotechnology for the Poor
• The First Year (1999)
• Excursus on Independent-minded Partners
• The Second Year (2000)
• A Farmer in Nyeri (17 Dec 2000)
• The Third Year (2001)
• Farmers in Machakos (24 Nov 2001)
• Excursus on Plant Breeding
• The Fourth Year (2002)
• Farmers in Western Kenya (25/26 Nov 2002)
• Farmers in the Lowlands (27 Nov 2002)
• Excursus on Communications in a Rough Terrain
• The Fifth Year (2003)
• Farmers in Meru (15 Nov 2003)
• Excursus on Commerce and Consumption
• The Sixth Year (2004)
• Woman Farmers in Kisii (21 June 2004)
• Farmers in Mwala (7 Dec 2004)
• Excursus on Patents and Licenses
• The Seventh Year (2005)
• Farmers in Githunguri (6 Nov 2005)
• Farmers in Mbeere (19 Nov 2005)
• A Preliminary Assessment
• Gleanings
• Excursus on Market Segmentation
• A Farmer near Embu (3 Nov 2008)