WEED CONTROL

Smallholders have in principle a comparative advantage over commercial growers in controlling weed infestation by use of family labour.

However the best approach to weed control is preventive:

• Planting in a clean seedbed from which weeds and weed seeds have been eliminated;
• Ensuring quick establishment of the crop and quick cover of the soil so that weeds have no chance to establish themselves

If weed removal does become necessary:

• Hand weeding should normally be the method of first choice, provided sufficient family labour is available and the cost of using it is lower than that of chemical weeding;
• If chemical herbicides are used, only formulations approved by the company which buys the farmers' produce should be applied, and great care should be taken to ensure that the manufacturer's recommendations on use are followed.

More information: Key Questions on Weed Control