Benefits of the paw-paw tree
Agriculture Reporter
A paw-paw tree has multiple benefits for farmers other than its fruit, a Community Technology Development Trust handbook says.
The tree can be used to effectively control fungi, armyworm, nematodes, termites, aphids and diseases such as powdery mildew among others.
Ingredients
l 1kg paw-paw leaves
l 500g paw-paw roots
l 2kg immature fruit
l 5 litres water
l 2 teaspoons paraffin
l 7g soap
Preparation
l Add 1kg of finely shredded leaves to a litre of water.
l Shake vigorously
l Filter and add four litres of water
l Add two teaspoons of paraffin
l Dissolve the soap and add to the mixture
l Spray or water into the soil for cutworm control.
Effective for fungal control when used as a spray.
A mixture of seeds and water repels a number of pests including armyworm. A juice extracted by pressing out the roots has been known to destroy nematodes when worked into the soil. Extract juice from immature fruit controls termites. Other pests and diseases controlled by paw-paw extracts are caterpillars, coffee rust, powdery mildew, rice brown leaf spot, leaf mould, leaf spot, early blight, frog eye and fruit and stem rot.