@article{Kipkoech:51679,
      recid = {51679},
      author = {Kipkoech, Anderson Kipruto and Schulthess, Fritz and  Yabann, Wilson K. and Maritim, Henry K. and Muchugu, Erick  and Mithofer, Dagmar},
      title = {The economic value of releasing parasitoid for the control  of maize stemborers in East and Southern Africa},
      address = {2009},
      number = {1005-2016-78983},
      series = {Contributed Paper},
      pages = {20},
      year = {2009},
      abstract = {The braconid larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes Cameron  was introduced from Asia into East and Southern African  region starting in 1993 to control the invasive exotic  maize stemborer Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera:  Crambidae). A quasi-experiment was constructed using  farmers that applied sublethal dosages of pesticide in  assessing the counterfactual for the impact of the  establishment of the introduced parasitoid in five  countries in the region. Logistic regression method was  used to estimate the probability that farmers’ would  inadvertently exclude parasitoids in their maize field.  Thereafter the propensity score matching method was used to  find corresponding farmers excluding parasitoids among  those who did not for yield comparison. The geographical  information system (GIS) application software with  ecological, agricultural and land cover data bases was used  to classify and select the ecological zones surveyed, to  estimate the spread of the parasitoid. Results indicate a  rampant use of pesticides at sublethal dosage across the  countries. Intensifying maize production by is likely to  improve the effectiveness of parasitoids. The annual value  of the economic impact of the introduced parasitoid is  estimated to range from US $ 43 m – 76 m. It is apparent  that the appropriate matching algorithm depends on the  distribution of yield data available. The study  demonstrates the potential of using biological agents to  improve yields among the poor households who can seldom  afford purchased inputs.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/51679},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.51679},
}