"One Stone Two Birds": Integrating application of biolarvicides and fertilizer in rice fields to control malaria vectors productivity and increase rice yields in Tanzania

The majority of all 243 million reported cases of malaria worldwide occur in children under five in Africa. While effective treatment has lowered the mortality rate, current malaria interventions are unlikely to halt the actual transmission of the disease, showing the need for supplementary intervention measures. This project aims to introduce biolarvicides in rice farming practices in rural Tanzania, as an innovative approach in malaria control. By offering larvicides in the form of pellets that can be mixed with fertilizers, local skills are put to use, creating a double impact: the reduction of malaria transmission and increased rice yields. The integrated application of biolarvicides is a safe, effective and environmentally sustainable component of a successfully integrated vector management strategy.