Evidence from on-farm participatory trials conducted in Kenya and Uganda indicate that herbicides can increase the net benefits to farmers, of cultivating maize, by up to 80 per cent. When this is combined with their ability to alleviate seasonal andgender-based labour constraints, their potential contribution to a more successful and economically sustainable farming system is substantial. Despite these potential benefits, a recent survey found that only 3 per cent of maize producing households in Kenya and Uganda were using herbicides as a means of weed control. Low adoption levels were found to be related to poverty, knowledge systems, poor access to credit and gender issues (particularly intrahousehold income flows).
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