Maize and Malaria

Back in 1950s the World Health Organizations (WHO) sprayed large amounts of DDT to counter a malaria outbreak in Borneo (island near Indonesia), successfully killing off malaria mosquitoes, as well as some pesky cockroaches. But then thatched roofs began falling on peoples' heads. The pesticide, it turned out, had also killed off wasps that ate thatch-eating caterpillars. What's more, the pesticide moved up the food chain, poisoning lizards, which were then eaten by cats. And as cats died, rats flourished, spreading new diseases, including typhus. 


Lacking food security, Africans grew a new maize that which grows faster and more abundantly than traditional varieties. A maize field produces large amounts of pollen — about 300 pounds per hectare, or 2.5 acres. Unfortunately, mosquito larvae thrive on it. 


One solution would have farmers grow a genetically modified variety of maize containing an insecticide that would kill mosquito larvae. But the costs of that would be beyond the means of local farmers.Another possible solution would involve detasseling, removing the pollen-producing tassel from a maize plant by hand and preventing pollination, but that is a time-consuming process.A third option, would be to encourage farmers to grow a maize variety that sheds its pollen earlier in the season, prior to peak mosquito development. Farmers could also plant their fields at least sixty meters from their homesteads to create a buffer zone between the breeding grounds and the houses.