Assessment of Constraints to the Adoption of Technologies Promoted by the Integrated Pest Management Training Program in Cotton-Based Cropping Systems in Western Burkina Faso

Abstract

Our study was conducted from August 2008 to March 2009 in the Houet province, western Burkina Faso. It consisted in the assessment of the constraints to the adoption by cotton growers of technologies promoted by the IPM program through Farmers’ Field Schools in cotton-cereals-livestock systems. We did so by surveying a sample of 185 farmers trained in IPM and by describing farmers’ practices before and after the training in IPM. The results showed that the average dose of organic manure, NPK and urea used by famers after their training were respectively 3.8 tons/ha, 163 kg/ha and 65 kg /ha as compared with 2.4 tons/ha, 140 kg/ha and 51 kg/ha before the training. Regarding the use of pesticides, 94.6% of farmers used protection equipment during the sprayings after the training against 21.6% of them before the training. However, the average number of sprays did not vary significantly. It was 6 before the training and only 5 after. The botanical pesticides were used by 31% of farmers after the training as compared with 0% of users before the training in IPM. The training did not affect much crop yields. The constraints identified and classified according to their relative importance included the lack of agricultural equipment, and animals for ploughing, difficulties in inputs access, labor shortage, the lack of organic manure, and marketing problems. These technical, social and economic constraints have been analyzed and recommendations have been made to work them out.