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Many farmers in sub-Saharan Africa suffer heavily from crop losses due to stem borer pests. Insecticides are often unaffordable; therefore, maize plants must be made resistant to pests. The 'Insect Resistant Maize for Africa' (IRMA) project in Kenya was aimed at developing new maize varieties both by conventional methods and by biotechnologically incorporating the delta-endotoxin produced by the soil bacterium Bacilius thuringiensis.
The author gives an impartial and chronological account of this exemplary project between 1999 and 2008, supplemented by discussions of agricultural development policy and descriptions of Kenyan smallholders and the project team. Taking critical and rational positions on the use of modern plant breeding techniques, biotechnology and development policy, this book is of interest to researchers and students, development agencies, NGOs and biotechnology companies.
| Introduction: A Model of Development Aid | p. 7 |
| Excursus on Kenya: The Country and its Agriculture | p. 11 |
| The Prehistory: The Beginning of an Obstacle Course | p. 21 |
| Biotechnology for the Poor: Lightening the Burden of Existence | p. 29 |
| The First Year (1999): Setting the Standard at Mombasa | p. 43 |
| Excursus on Independent-minded Partners: Three-way Collaboration | p. 51 |
| The Second Year (2000): The Constructive Spirit of Nyeri | p. 59 |
| 17 Dec 2000. A Farmer in Nyeri: The Principle of Hope in a Maize Plot | p. 77 |
| The Third Year (2001): Ambitious Aims | p. 79 |
| 24 Nov 2001: Farmers in Machakos: Cheap, Please-or Best of All, Free | p. 101 |
| Excursus on Plant Breeding: Bombarding Cells with the Gene Gun | p. 105 |
| The Fourth Year (2002): Very Ordinary Problems | p. 119 |
| 25/26 Nov 2002. Farmers in Western Kenya: Mastering Problems Cleverly | p. 143 |
| 27 Nov 2002. Farmers in the Lowlands: The Tropics as a Handicap | p. 149 |
| Excursus on Communication in a Rough Terrain: Perception Shapes Reality | p. 155 |
| The Fifth Year (2003): "A Massive, Costly Delay" | p. 165 |
| 15 Nov 2003. Farmers in Meru: Protecting Minimal Yields | p. 181 |
| Excursus on Commerce and Consumption: Confronting the Laws of the Market | p. 185 |
| The Sixth Year (2004): With the President's Blessing | p. 195 |
| 21 June 2004. Farmers in Kisii: Working the Fields is a Woman's Job | p. 211 |
| 7 Dec 2004. Farmers in Mwala: Everything Depends on Water | p. 215 |
| Excursus on Patents and Licences: In the Headlock of Multinationals | p. 219 |
| The Seventh Year (2005): Obstacles and Uncertainties | p. 223 |
| 6 Nov 2005. Farmers in Githunguri: Valuable Proximity to the City | p. 239 |
| 19 Nov 2005. Farmers in Mbeere: Fighting Hunger with Education | p. 243 |
| A Preliminary Assessment: An Exemplary Project and its Lessons | p. 249 |
| Gleanings (2006-2008): The Hard Ground of Reality | p. 255 |
| Excursus on Market Segmentation: Modern Seed for the Poor | p. 269 |
| 3 Nov 2008. A Farmer near Embu: Self-made Prosperity | p. 277 |
| Index of Keywords | p. 281 |
| Index of Persons | p. 287 |
| Photograph Credits | p. 291 |
| Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved. |
ISBN: 9781845935696
ISBN-10: 1845935691
Series: Cabi Ser.
Audience:
Tertiary; University or College
Format:
Hardcover
Language:
English
Number Of Pages: 296
Published: 10th January 2009
Dimensions (cm): 22.4 x 17.2
x 2.3
Weight (kg): 0.862
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