Rice and malaria in Cote d’Ivoire: Seeking vector control in rice cultivation techniques
Kallista’s PhD explores the aspects of rice cultivation and their effect on malaria productivity. It aims to identify potential malaria vector control through improved or novel rice cultivation techniques. Based in AfricaRice’s research station in Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire, she is conducting field trials with agronomists to assess the effect of a variety of rice-farming practices, such as crop establishment, water management regimes, weed management and fertiliser use, on the abundance of the efficient African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.
One part of the study will focus on an irrigation technology: alternate wetting and drying, where paddies are passively drained to save water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Studies will explore if this method can be adapted for vector control.
Secondly, the project will develop a ricefield-specific larval sampling tool suitable for rice agronomists, in order to continue mosquito surveillance in rice fields. Methods involved in this will also be used to estimate vector productivity, to find out how many millions of malaria vectors are produced by an irrigation scheme during a rice-growing season.
Another element of the project will be a re-assessment of existing literature linking rice cultivation, malaria and its vectors in Africa. Finally studies will be made with local social scientists to determine the views and perspectives of rice communities on mosquitoes and their potential riceland control.
