Abstract
BackgroundFinger millet blast disease, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, is a serious constrain of finger millet production which is threatening global food security especially to the resource poor smallholder farmers in arid and semi-arid regions. The disease adversely affects finger millet production and consumption due to its wide distribution and destruction in all finger millet growing areas of southern Asia and eastern Africa. Here, we present a study that investigated the occurrence, impact, risk factors and farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of finger millet blast in Kenya.MethodsWe surveyed blast disease occurrence and interviewed farmers in Bungoma and Kisii Counties of Kenya during March–April 2019. Data were analysed using SPSS statistical program. Descriptive analysis was done by calculating means, percentages, frequencies, and standard errors. Comparative statistics, chi-square and t-tests, were used to evaluate differences existing among the farm characteristics and socio-demographics and the knowledge and perceptions of blast disease and its management practices.ResultsOur results show that blast disease is prevalent in all surveyed areas and adversely affects the productivity of the crop leading to poor yields. The disease occurrence varied from 92 to 98%, and was significantly higher in the major finger millet growing areas compared to the minor ones. Blast occurrence was associated with rainfall, altitude, planting density, intercropping and other farming practices. In all the surveyed regions, farmers had little knowledge about blast disease identification, its detection and spread. Further, the farmers’ awareness of blast disease control was inconsistent with established practices.ConclusionsOur results show mitigation of finger millet blast disease should aim at improving farmers’ adoption of best practices through development of acceptable blast-resistant finger millet varieties, use of sustainable disease management practices, fostering linkages and creating new partnerships in the production-supply chain and maintaining a functional seed system. Findings from this study provide essential insights for effective decision making and management of the disease. This is fundamental to sustainable and secure food and income for finger millet growing farmers in Kenya.
Highlights
Finger millet, Eleusine coracana Gaertn., is the most important small millet and a significant subsistence crop in arid and semi-arid regions of eastern Africa and Asia under both rain-feed and irrigated systemsMbinda et al CABI Agric Biosci (2021) 2:13(Thilakarathna et al 2015; Onyango et al 2016)
Finger millet blast disease caused by the fungus Pyricularia oryzae Cavara
This study aims to investigate farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of finger millet blast disease, its specific control measures and the socio-economic impact of crop losses through a participatory rural appraisal approach
Summary
Eleusine coracana Gaertn., is the most important small millet and a significant subsistence crop in arid and semi-arid regions of eastern Africa and Asia under both rain-feed and irrigated systemsMbinda et al CABI Agric Biosci (2021) 2:13(Thilakarathna et al 2015; Onyango et al 2016). Finger millet is an important food security crop due to its ability to grow in areas with low rainfall as well as its high nutraceutical value and good storability (Vetriventha et al 2020). Finger millet productivity is constrained by biotic and abiotic stresses as well as socioeconomic factors. Finger millet blast disease caused by the fungus Pyricularia oryzae Cavara (= Magnaporthe oryzae B.C. Couch) is the most destructive finger millet disease that threatens its production worldwide as well as to other economically important cereal crops including rice and wheat (Klaubauf et al 2014; Chung et al 2020). Finger millet blast disease, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, is a serious constrain of finger millet production which is threatening global food security especially to the resource poor smallholder farmers in arid and semiarid regions. We present a study that investigated the occurrence, impact, risk factors and farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of finger millet blast in Kenya
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