A new milestone in East Africa’s agriculture sector could soon help more farmers protect their crops, improve yields and strengthen food security.
The Toothpick Project has announced that Kichawi Kill, its Striga biocontrol seed coating, has officially received regulatory approval in Uganda. The approval clears the way for the product to be used by farmers in the country, marking an important step in delivering practical solutions to one of Africa’s biggest farming challenges.
Striga, often called a parasitic weed, is among the most destructive weeds affecting maize and other staple crops across Africa. It reduces harvests, increases labour demands and weakens farmer incomes. With Uganda now approving Kichawi Kill, farmers in affected areas have a new option designed to protect their fields while improving long-term productivity.
“We have achieved a major milestone for The Toothpick Project, benefitting East Africa farmers and global sustainable agriculture,” said Claire Baker, Director and co-founder of the Toothpick Project.
“We are proud to announce that Kichawi Kill, our Striga biocontrol seed coating, has officially received regulatory approval in Uganda. 🇺🇬”
“This approval marks a significant step forward in delivering an effective, farmer-centered solution to one of Africa’s most destructive parasitic weeds – helping improve crop yields, livelihoods and food security.”
Baker added that the team is working to move quickly into distribution. “We are still working on getting approval to use Kenya’s packaging this season so we can start distributing ASAP. Please reach out to me and Rtn. Susan Adong DOI if you want to distribute to your farmer networks this season.”
“We are grateful to our partners, scientists, regulators and farming communities who made this achievement possible. Onward to impact!” she said.
A farmer-centered solution that improves maize yields
Kichawi Kill is designed to be simple for farmers to use, while offering strong results. The Toothpick Co., the organisation behind the technology, describes its approach as using biology to fight biology.
The product targets only Striga weed and does not harm other crops, animals or the environment. Its active ingredient is made up of virulence-enhanced strains of endemic, host-specific fungi. These strains kill Striga while leaving the rest of the ecosystem intact.
What makes the solution practical for smallholder farmers is its application method. Kichawi Kill is a seed coating that farmers apply to their seeds about 30 minutes before planting. This means farmers do not need complicated equipment or costly processes to start using it. The Toothpick Co. says the seed coating can also be delivered at very low cost, which is critical for farmers operating with limited resources.
In addition, Kichawi Kill can help reduce the time and energy farmers spend on weeding, because it directly addresses the Striga problem at planting stage. That reduced labour can allow farmers to spend more time on other farm improvements such as good soil practices and better crop management.
Why this approval matters for food security and livelihoods
Beyond the technology itself, the approval in Uganda signals a wider opportunity for agriculture growth and resilience in the region. The Toothpick Co. reports that Kichawi Kill can increase overall maize yield by 40% to 56%, bringing fields “back to where they should be.” For maize farmers, this kind of improvement can mean stronger household incomes, better nutrition and more stability during difficult seasons.
Higher yields also matter at a national level. With maize being a key staple crop in East Africa, reducing Striga damage supports stronger food supplies and reduces pressure on farming communities.
The team behind the project also links improved yields with long-term sustainability. When fields become productive again, farmers can focus more on soil health, biodiversity and human nutrition, instead of spending most of their time fighting weeds and trying to salvage low harvests.
With Uganda’s regulatory approval secured, attention is now turning to distribution networks and scaling impact. If the product reaches farmer communities quickly, Kichawi Kill could become a major tool in improving farm productivity and supporting food security across East Africa.
