NANFA-- Biocontrol of water hyacinth in West Africa

Sajjad Lateef (sajjadlateef_at_yahoo.com)
Wed, 7 May 2003 12:08:18 -0700 (PDT)

Superweed-eating beetles save Benin millions

LONDON (Reuters) - The tiny West African country of Benin has saved
millions of dollars by enlisting the help of beetles that devoured a
weed choking its lakes, killing fish and disrupting transport,
according to new research.

"Two species of beetle are credited with saving the economy of Benin in
West Africa $260 million over 20 years," New Scientist magazine said on
Wednesday.

The insects proved to be the most effective weapon against the water
hyacinth, a fast-growing weed that has turned into a major problem on
many African lakes and waterways, and succeeded where expensive
chemicals and harvesting methods had failed.

Peter Neuenschwander at the International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture in Cotonou in Benin, did an economic analysis of the
biocontrol of the weed. He calculated the saving on the basis of money
saved on more expensive control methods, and improvements to fishing
and the transportation of goods.

"Neuenschwander estimates that over 20 years the economic benefits of
control exceeded the research costs by a factor of more than 120. And
that's ignoring the benefits to the rest of Africa," the magazine
added.

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-- 
Sajjad Lateef
sajjad_at_acm.org
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