curbing the locust pandemic
locusts are destructive pests.They have spread across most of countries.they fly in swarms hence making it difficult to eradicate.spraying has been used to control the locusts but these method has not been fruitful and the chemicals used are posing great danger to the environment.use of bran is a technique that aims at feeding the locusts with what they love most taking advantage of the nymph stage.there are a variety types of bran feeds.the bran feeds are to be poisoned by a NEEM pesticide and then introduced to the locusts.a little mollases is to be added to the food to make it more appealing.once they feed on these food the locusts will automatically die.it is possible to eradicate a full swarm when these feed has been introduced at a target place using the locust trapping app.the method is environmental friendly and guarantees 90% eradication.
The locusts attacked some parts of east Africa in December 2019 and have spread to many countries .the most recent cases are those of south west Asia,middle east,yemen ,saudi arabia and iran.there has been a threat to food security by all the countries that have been attacked by the locusts.the farmers have been greatly affected since the crops have been destroyed.we are living in another global pandemic(corona virus) hence we must put efforts to fight food crisis.they destroy at least 200 tonnes of vegetation per day.this is so because a kilometer swarm can contain up to 80 million locusts.the previous locust attack was between 2003-2005 and there were tens of billions of locusts.about $2.5 billion was used to eradicate them.this left the peasant farmers suffering and as a result, children especially girls discontinued their education.the spraying method has been applied but the locusts seems to be resistant because their bodies have chitin hence it takes a while before the pesticides can enter their body.these pesticides also are environmental pollutants and are really posing danger to living things.brans are cereal grain crops which will help solve this pandemic especially because locusts prefer eating them compared to any other food.
brans are cereal grain crops which are loved by the locusts.there are a variety of brans feeds and are cheaplly available.the locusts has got 3 life cycles.at nymph stage/hoppers, they cannot fly .hence it is possible to feed the locusts with poisoned brans .also a little of mollases is to be added to the food because the locusts love molases.the bran is to be poisoned by a pesticide recommendend by NEEM to ensure that when animals feed on the dead locusts there will be no harm.to ensure that the locusts do not fly from the target area, the neigbouring region will be sprayed with a chemical that contains ALLICIN .it is known to repel locusts.100% of hoppers will be eradicated.if the locusts are on the adult stage,its is easier to eradicate them using the same method but tracking their movement using the locust monitoring app created by FAO.the dead locusts can then be crashed and used as feeds for poultry.there is no remedy for the already destroyed crops.but this will ensure that there will be no later damage by the locusts.
the proposal on use of bran as a renmedy to control locusts aims at serving all nations that have faced the locust pandemic.we do not promise to pay back the already destroyed crops but we are offering a solution that will prevent any further damage.in some regions there are already mature swarms that are destroying the crops wherrease in some places the locusts are breeding meaning the next swarm will hit 100 times harder than the current swarm.this will be a great diasaster.this solution will serve miliions of people and even protect the future generations.we are also hoping that the revenuwe that is used to kill locusts by spraying could be saved and used to fund farmers who have been subject to the destruction.we have already done a pilot project and we are enganging farmers to prepare them to fight whwn the next swarm comes.however,it is becaming difficult because money too is required.
- Other
the problem we are solving is the locust pandemic.we are offering a very economical solution of using bran food as a remedy to locust control.we are targeting to help billions of people from different countries so as to ensure food security especially during this hard times we are faxing corona virus.fighting the locusts will also help growth of economy especially to those countries that rely on agriculture as the main source of income.this will also help reduce environmental pollution and will be a source of food or poultry.
- Concept: An idea being explored for its feasibility to build a product, service, or business model based on that idea
- A new application of an existing technology
food is a basic need.irrespective of other pandemics facing the world now,we still have to eat and we must preserve food reserves so as to benefit the coming generations.this bran innovative challenge seeks to protect both the environment and human life saving the future of the world.we cannot actually predict when next the locusts will invade.neither can we predict which continent will be next.but atleast we are sure we have the bran challenge that can help us conquer the disaster.the world might have so many innovative business models aiming at making money.most of developing countries actually rely on agriculture as the main stimulant to economy.this means the role of agriculture cannot be ignored.despite the many upcoming business models,we must agree that we must find a permanent solution to anything that is a threat to food security.the solution is USE OF BRAN AS A REMEDY TO ERADICATE LOCUSTS.
the bran innovative challenge is a new business model but also uses a form of existing technology.this is because we are taking advantage of locust at nymph stage.at nymph stage,the locusts are feeders but cannot travel over long distances because they cannot fly.feeding them at this stage becomes easier and they can be eradicated in a single day!in places where there are adults,we need to use the locust monitoring app that has been put to use by FAO recently.we can also do monitoring and evaluation so as to locate where the locusts might attack next.this is possible because we know that one of the factors locust consider before migration ,is altitude.it is possible to locte the next place they are moving to.once they attack a certain region then the method will apply.
the use of bran as remedy to locust control as tested at a village in kenya where the locusts had invaded.majority of the locusts were hoppers hence the aradication was very successful.the biggest challenge was,when it rained,the content of the bran was diluted.trherefore,the hoppers did not die in a single day as expected.the maize bran was the one used because it was the most available.on the first day,the bran feed was introduced to the locusts but was not poisoned.this was to test if the locusts would feed on bran before the vegetation.on the 2nd day,there was very little change .the feed was left for three more days.very little bran was left but the hoppers fed on both bran and vegetation.thr fith day,same bran food was was introduced added mollases double the amount used in the previous test.after one night ,the amount of bran feed left was very minimal.the vegetation which acted as habitat for the hoppers was not consumed.the adults fed on both the brans and green vegetation.the 7th day,garlic was crushed and blendend so as to use as spray for the locusts.garlic has ALLICIN chemical which is a repellant to locusts.the solution was then sprayed some meters away from where the locusts were.this was to ensure the locusts do not fly but rather remain in the same position.the poisoned bran mixed with molasses was fed to them.it was noted that the number of both hoppers and adults had greatly reduced.these was as a result of consuming the poisoned food.
- Ancestral Technology & Practices
- Behavioral Technology
- Software and Mobile Applications
in all the areas affected by locusts,the most outstanding solution that has been used is use of chemical spray to kill the locusts.mainly aerial spray.the chemicals used are so strong and have impacted poultry negatively after consumption of the dead locusts.there has also been a danger of air pollution and even the food and agricultural organization has stated that the chemicals used are environmental pollutants.countries are spending a lot in importing the chemical sprays and worst is that the number of locusts is rising and the swarms hitting much stronger.we are forgetting that the locusts have got chitin on their body and therefore the chemical spray will take long before it enters their body systems.to change this method,we decided to be friendly to locusts and instead give them the best food they love.it has always been said the easier way to kill an enemy is to befriend them.therefore,we are feeding the locusts with their favorite food but poisoned.it works in minutes.there is no other way we can eradicate a swarm of locust.
- Women & Girls
- Rural
- Peri-Urban
- Urban
- Low-Income
- Middle-Income
- 2. Zero Hunger
- 3. Good Health and Well-Being
- 4. Quality Education
- Kenya
when doing a pilot project to see if the idea works,we practiced the method in a small village in kenya.the project was successful.but we were not able to pitch the idea to the government because of the restrictions put in place after the covid-19 was reported.the country prioritized curfew and lockdown but it is for the benefit of us citizens.now that things are better,we are hoping to pitch the idea and eradicate all locusts in one years time.we are dedicated to see that all countries are free from the locust pandemic in the next two years.we will take advantage of locusts at nymph stage and ensure that the immature swarms do not hatch.
being a farmer,my goal is to help in every way to sustainable agriculture.looking for problem faced by farmers and finding possible solutions to the existing challenges.my major goal in the next one year is make sure we fight the locust pandemic across east africa and extend this knowledge to other parts of the world.i aim at seeing a world free from locust pandemic especially now that the world is facing corona virus pandemic.in the next five years i am hoping to build disaster fighting teams which will be a strategy of finding solutions to any pandemic that might invade the world.i am also hoping to collaborate with different agencies responsible for disaster management so as to help the suffering communities.
the corona virus is the main hindrance to the success of this work.this is because the government has its attention and very few actually notice that the food supply is in danger.movement from place to place has been limited .it will take up to next year before this idea can reach other affected places.another challenge is that of financial assistance.billions are being used in purchase of chemical sprays to kill locusts.this has been facilitated by donor organizations such as Food and agricultural organization.reaching to such organizations or to the government is tough.purchase of bran and molasses and the chemical that contains allicin is expensive especially because we are talking of a swarm of locust which has up to 80 million locusts.there are more than 7 swarms up to now.
we are hoping to make the idea known first to Kenya government,so as the idea can be implemented.it is from these step that we will be able to have an estimate of how much will be used in locust eradication.we are choosing Kenya because charity begins at home.besides,we have the been fighting the locusts since 2019 December to date and we are expecting another swarm between mid June and July which according to FAO will be 100 times stronger than the previous swarm.considering that even now the locusts are still attacking,there is no time to waste.we are hopeful that this MIT program will listen to us and help us pitch the idea to different states so that we can help nations before the damage is too much.
- Not registered as any organization
N/A
a team of 2 volunteer individuals.
Kenya and some othercountries have recently been prone to some disasters like floods ,and corona virus and then the attack by locusts.the government has put efforts to end some of these pandemics but the efforts have not been so fruitful.we are a team that believes every challenge has a solution.the sustainable development goal 2 talks about zero hunger.our idea is to see that we help achieve these goal.we are researchers and we are committed to find possible solutions to any global or local challenge that puts human life into danger.when the red spinder mites were declared a disaster in our country,we looked for a solution thta has been so helpful up todate.this was the beginning of our journey and we are confident that even these locust pandemic,we shall win.
we have not partnered with any organization so far.
the use of bran as a remedy to locust control is purely a measure to help all communities and help governments so as to elimate the disaster .it is nobodys fault that the locusts have destroyed crops and have made us loose billions.we are a volunteer team that seeks to partner with organizations that are in charge of disaster management,where by ,we will share and prove that our idea works and then seek help so as to impliment these idea on all affected countries.when the last locust pandemic happened,girls were most affected because they were forced to discontinue with their education.we dfo not want this to happen again.this is the reason we are not prioritizing profit making but instead we are focusing on extending our service to various countries fo free.whenever our country is faced with a challenge,we always receive foreign assistance.we are willing to extend a helping hand to any country that has been affected by locust for free.
- Organizations (B2B)
The MIT solve challenge is a place to be.to begin with,this platform gives ua a chance to express our views and also gives us mentorship opportunity once you become a member.it also gives a chance to receive funding inform of grants,debts and equity which we are looking for.besides we are also seeking for partners and the MIT platform will be a good guide to seek for the right partners .being a global platform,it means that we will be able to interact with different people who will present different innovations.it is a chance to learn an it will help the finalists come with conclusions on saving the world.
- Business model
- Product/service distribution
- Board members or advisors
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Other
in order for the project to be successful,we require partners that will be guiding us on monitoring the locust migration.the locust move following the altitude of places.if we were to implement these idea on a foreign nation,we will need help from the monitoring group of that country.we also need advisors because the team of board members may have remedy on what we can do so as to implement the idea possible in one year.we are also seeking to partner with service distributors so as to help us locate the most affected nations which we must serve first before others.
we would like to partner with the MIT solver team first for giving a chance to pitch our idea.the MIT solver faculty gives us also a wide range of solutions to choose from.we do not want a repeat of what happened in the 2003-2005 error.that is why we will use any funding to make sure that girls do not discontinue their education.we would also wish to partner with food and agriculture organization as this is the main organization responsible for funding nations to curb the locust pandemic.this will help the organization cut down on costs that are being used .these money can be channeled elsewhere. we can also partner with all farmer organizations so as to educate farmers on how to fight locusts.
the last locust outbreak which started in 2003 and endend in 2005resulted in an estimated of $2.5 billion in crop damage.the subsistence farmers were hit hard by these pandemic.the same thing is what is happening now.it is even worse because we have corona virus and floods pandemic.the subsistence farmers are left in tough situations because of low income.the result is that girls are likely to discontinue their education.most business are going down and sure enough women are likely to suffer.the innovation for women prize will help us assist various communities and ensure that girls can still access education.we are going to fund them financially.we are living in hard times and it is therefore good if we help each other out.
we are a team that is addressing a global pandemic for the benefit of all.as stated earlier ,this project is not based on making profit but rather solving an existing pandemic so as to protect the current and future generations.our team is dedicated to find solutions to any global pandemic that puts human life at risk.we are also working on how we can curb corona virus.our team is united by members who strongly believe and uphold that there is a solution to any problem.the answers are always here with us.upon winning the future planet capital prize,we are promising to come up with more measures on various pandemic and also restoring back life of those who are affected. all our research projects are not profit based but rather are for extending a helping hand to nations.after all it is always nice if people can live a life of helping each other.