Farmers' perceptions of aspects of maize production systems and pests in semi-arid eastern Kenya: Factors influencing occurrence and control of stemborers

Abstract

A farmer survey was conducted in six agro-ecological zones (AEZs) in semi-arid eastern Kenya to verify the socio-economic importance of maize, identify its pests and farmers' perceptions of the relative importance of the pests. We also determined some agronomic practices that may influence stemborer infestation and identified the stemborer control methods used. Pests reported included chafer grubs, stemborers, termites, 'red ants', yellow-necked spur fowls, squirrels, monkeys, porcupines, rats, wild pigs and storage insect pests. Their relative importance in each AEZ is discussed. The squirrel was the most widely distributed and important vertebrate pest of maize in the study AEZs. Stemborers infested maize in all the zones, and ranked first among insect pests in the Upper Midland zone 4 (UM4), Lower Midland zone 3 (LM3) and LM4, and second in LM5, but were unimportant in UM2. Agronomic practices that may influence stemborer infestation in maize, including cropping system, sowing time, fertilizer/manure use, stover storage usage and disposal and maize varieties are discussed. Most farmers preferred local to improved maize varieties, and maize was mostly grown as an intercrop. This emphasizes the need for more research effort to identify pests and develop pest management technologies in local maize varieties, contrary to the current research agenda which has focussed on improved varieties. Pest management technologies developed also should be compatible with intercropping before dissemination to farmers. Farmers use insecticides, wood ash, soil, saw dust, chilli pepper powder, dry cell powder and mexican marigold ( Tagetes minuta ) to control stemborers.