# Vignette 22: Lesotho's grasshopper pesticide
During a solutions mapping exercise in Lesotho's Mafeteng district, something caught the UNDP Accelerator Lab team's eye: in the midst of drought-stricken fields, one farmer's maize crop stood vibrant and green. The team had traveled about 60 kilometers from the city center to explore the village, following their usual protocol of first meeting with the chief to introduce themselves and explain their mission to identify local innovations.
"We just go out in the field as blank as ever, unless there's something that we saw of interest," explained Neo Matsoso, Head of Exploration at UNDP Lesotho Accelerator Lab, describing their open-ended approach to discovering solutions already working in communities.
The team met Motseki Ratefane, the farmer whose green maize had caught their attention. Living in the Kolo area, he had developed a natural pesticide from an unlikely source. In 2018, after killing a grasshopper in his field, he noticed it seemed to repel[\[1\]](#endnote-1) other insects from the area. This accidental discovery led him to experiment with collecting and crushing elegant grasshoppers (tsie-balimo) to create a natural pesticide for his crops.[\[2\]](#endnote-2)
"One thing that he saw was that it acted as a pesticide. And so he didn't have to buy those chemically produced pesticides in his garden ever since that actually happened," reported Neo.
In collaboration with the National University of Lesotho, they tested elegant grasshopper extracts following the farmer's process. They used black bean aphids, among others, as test subjects: small insects that damage crops by sucking plant juices, weakening growth, and potentially transmitting plant diseases. The results were unexpected; the extract achieved a 100% mortality rate against aphids within 24 hours, outperforming commercial pesticides.
Further testing indicated the grasshopper solution was safe for human consumption and the environment, unlike chemical pesticides which can leave harmful residues. The challenge now lies in the inconsistent availability of elegant grasshoppers in the wild, prompting the Lab to plan additional experiments on sustainable harvesting methods.
However, these tests did not lead to using the grasshopper as a pesticide for environmental issues in Lesotho. It was argued that this could lead to harvesting of the hoppers and this could disturb the ecology.[\[3\]](#endnote-3)
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#### **Key takeaways**
* **Observe with curiosity and openness to serendipity:** Engage with communities without predetermined solutions in mind, staying alert to what stands out; the most valuable discoveries often happen by accident
* **Check if innovations build on traditional knowledge**: Consult solution databases and explore local traditions for similar practices; historical precedents help understand why solutions work and when they're effective
* \*\*Advance grassroots experiments through scientific rigor:\*\*Grassroots experiments provide initial insights, but research partnerships can help create credible evidence that attracts resources and expertise for developing or scaling solutions
* **Accept that validation doesn't guarantee implementation:** Proving a solution works is necessary but not sufficient; ethical considerations, potential ecological consequences, and economic viability all matter for whether a solution can responsibly move forward
{% endhint %}
***
## Notes
1. Interestingly, this repellent quality was known in traditional medicine - elegant grasshoppers were historically used by traditional healers to repel evil spirits, likely because of their strong odor (also see UNDP Lesotho, 2023). [↑](#endnote-ref-1)
2. See UNDP Lesotho (2020) for an initial report of this discovery. Also see Bennett (2023) for other nature-based solutions from the Accelerator Labs. [↑](#endnote-ref-2)
3. See UNDP Lesotho (2023). [↑](#endnote-ref-3)
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