Dar es Salaam. Two students at Moshi based Maua Seminary have developed a potentially low-cost pesticide for cereal crops using rice husks.
Newton Mshanga and Francis Shirima, studying at
Form Two and Form Three respectively, have managed to develop pesticides
from paddy husks when engaged in their joint science project at school.
“We came up with an idea after seeing crops in the school farm devastated by pests,” said Mr Shirima.
The duo were in the city this week to participate
in an exhibition which brought together science students from 60
secondary schools.
The competition, which was held during the last
two days also involved over 120 pupils and was meant to encourage them
apply scientific methods in finding solutions to problems in their
surroundings.
The competition was organised by Young Scientists Tanzania (YST) organisation with support from Irish government.
In an interview with The Citizen on
Wednesday the two students appeared conversant with science and seemed
to have real passion on research and related activities.
Mr Mshanga explained that they generated the idea
of making the pesticide from rice husks after discovering that as other
cereal crops were being destroyed by pests, rice remained almost
untouched.
“We then decided to make further research to establish what was in the husks that kept away pests,” he said.
After reading several science books, they realised
that the husks contained three ingredients, namely phosphorus,
potassium and silicon.
Phosphorus is used to manufacture most pesticides.
“We started a laboratory work to extract the phosphorus from the husks,” Mr Shirima said.
The pesticide they developed was a result of this phosphorus
which proved to be beneficial after it was tested in a school farm.
The two-day event made the students show case their scientific
innovations.
According to director of YST, Dr Gozibert
Kamugisha, the exhibition would also be a platform to link between
students and industries.
“This may push link industries to find ways of
working with these students and improve the product,” Dr Kamugisha noted
at press conference yesterday in Dar es Salaam.
As criteria to participate in the competition,
students were required to generate the ideas for their projects based on
actual situations in their communities.
“The projects on show would represent a great
passion and enthusiasm for science. The projects are inspiring and
reflect the curiosity of talented students. Indeed these projects reveal
a great potential for future and the need for promoting the spirit of
competitiveness among the youth,” he said.
