Farmers’ Perceptions of Rice Production Constraints and Stem Borers Management Practices in Tanzania

Bonaventure January,Tadele Tefera,Gration M Rwegasira

doi:10.5539/jas.v10n6p57

Abstract

Rice farmers in Tanzania continue to experience losses due to stem borers. However, the information on farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of rice stem borers is limited and farmers’ efforts on managing this insect have been ineffective. The aim of this study was to investigate constraints affecting rice production and farmers’ approaches of stem borer management in irrigated low land rice ecosystems in Tanzania. Research method: A focus group discussion with farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The information collected included: farmers’ socio-economic profiles, farm characteristics, knowledge and perceptions of stem borers and their management practices.Farmers reported insect pests such as stem borers, white flies, leaf rollers and grasshoppers as major constraints of rice production. Other constraints reported were such as diseases, damage by birds, drought, weeds and lack of access to credit for purchasing inputs. Most of the farmers apply chemical insecticides against rice insect pests particularly stem-borers where number of health hazards have been reported. Very few farmers use cultural methods including crop residue disposal and split application of nitrogenous fertilizers for reduction of stem borer damages. The study revealed that, most farmers have limited knowledge on the recommended stem borer management practices and suggests that environmentally friendly pest management methods to be designed and implemented to minimize losses associated with rice stem borers.

Highlights

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the dominant staple food in the developing world (Sarwar, 2012)
Other constraints reported were such as diseases, damage by birds, drought, weeds and lack of access to credit for purchasing inputs
The study revealed that, most farmers have limited knowledge on the recommended stem borer management practices and suggests that environmentally friendly pest management methods to be designed and implemented to minimize losses associated with rice stem borers

Summary

Introduction

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the dominant staple food in the developing world (Sarwar, 2012). Rice comes next to maize as most cereal food crop in Tanzania and it is grown in more than 10 regions (Mghase et al, 2010). More than one hundred species of insects have been reported to attack rice crop among which are rice stem borers (Pathak, 1968). An estimated rice yield loss of about 10% is incurred by rice insect pests to resource-poor farmers in developing countries (Mati, 2009) and rice grain yield loss of up to 91% due to stem borers in neighbouring Kenya (Kega et al, 2016). Rice stem borers have been reported as the most economically important insect pests of rice (Sigsgaard, 2000)

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