Mkulima today the expenses on the farm are one of the sure ways to reduce your farm’s operating costs. Here is how to make and use different household detergents as an insecticide.

These are items readily available for you at home.

Dishwashing detergent and vegetable oil

Mix 10mls of liquid dishwashing detergent with a cup of vegetable oil, shake vigorously to emulsify, and add 1 liter of clean water.

Use for a 10-day interval to control whiteflies, spider mites, aphids, and thrips.

Liquid detergent and alcohol spray

Mix 10mls of dishwashing soap and add 50mls of alcohol in 1 liter of water and shake well.

Repeat spraying after seven days to help in the control of snails and slugs.

Liquid detergent and hot pepper

Scoop 3 tablespoons of dry crushed hot pepper in 2 liters of hot water, cover for half an hour strain out or sieve the particles of pepper and mix with a solution of 1omls of liquid soap.

This solution is effective for a number of insects.

N/B

Avoid inhaling the fumes since they can be irritating to the nose and eyes.

Garlic and onions

Grind up raw onions and garlic into a puree, soak in warm water overnight and sieve out to get a clear solution without any particles.

The liquid can be sprayed and is effective on all chewing and sucking insects.

Healthy tomato leaves

Healthy tomato leaves used for leaf spot disease.

Grind  2kgs of tomato leaves into a puree, add 5 liters of water and leave it to soak overnight.

This solution is used to spray and control tomato leaf spot disease. The tomato leaves have solanine a chemical that is effective in the management of black spot fungus.

Tobacco water

This is used in the control of worms and aphids.

Mix 100 grams of tobacco with 20 liters of water so that its colour turns brown and spray on the plants.

N/B

Do not use this solution on tomatoes, peppers, and any other plant of the solanum family.

The reason for this is because it will lead to the spread of the tobacco virus on the plants.

Hot pepper and liquid soap

Crush 250 grams of hot pepper and add to 20 liters of clean water and mix well.

After mixing add 1omls of liquid soap and leave it to soak for a period of 4 hours.

This solution is ideal in the management of snails, whiteflies, and thrips.

Acapulco leaf extracts

 Acapulco leaf extract is a herb that has medicinal benefits. It contains chrysophanic acid, a fungicide used to treat fungal infestations

Start by boiling the chopped leaves and flowers in water for 15 minutes. Cool it and sieve the solution.

Then 10mls of soap to the solution. This is great for the control of powdery mildew, early and late blight.

Cassava. Controls early and late blight (tubers)

Papaya. Controls aphids, caterpillars, cutworms, and whiteflies (leaves, fruit, and roots)

Biden pilosa (blackjack). Targets aphids, cutworms, caterpillars, and whiteflies (repellent plant)

Manure dung and urine. Targets aphids, caterpillars, cutworms, thrips, and whiteflies