Insect pests of sweetpotato in Uganda: farmers' perceptions of their importance and control practices.

Joshua Sikhu Okonya,Katja Syndikus,Robert Om Mwanga,Jürgen Kroschel

doi:10.1186/2193-1801-3-303

Abstract

Insect pests are among the most important constraints limiting sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) production in Africa. However, there is inadequate information about farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and practices in the management of key insect pests. This has hindered development of effective pest management approaches for smallholder farmers. A standard questionnaire was used to interview individual sweetpotato farmers (n = 192) about their perception and management practices regarding insect pests in six major sweetpotato producing districts of Uganda. The majority (93%) of farmers perceived insect pests to be a very serious problem. With the exception of Masindi and Wakiso districts where the sweetpotato butterfly (Acraea acerata) was the number one constraint, sweetpotato weevils (Cylas puncticollis and C. brunneus) were ranked as the most important insect pests. Insecticide use in sweetpotato fields was very low being highest (28–38% of households) in districts where A. acerata infestation is the biggest problem. On average, 65% and 87% of the farmers took no action to control A. acerata and Cylas spp., respectively. Farmers were more conversant with the presence of and damage by A. acerata than of Cylas spp. as they thought that Cylas spp. root damage was brought about by a prolonged dry season. Different levels of field resistance (ability of a variety to tolerate damage) of sweetpotato landraces to A. acerata (eight landraces) and Cylas spp. (six landraces) were reported by farmers in all the six districts. This perceived level of resistance to insect damage by landraces needs to be investigated. To improve farmers’ capabilities for sweetpotato insect pest management, it is crucial to train them in the basic knowledge of insect pest biology and control.

Highlights

In Uganda and western Kenya, the sale of fresh sweetpotato roots, vines and processed foods in both local and urban markets is becoming increasingly popular contributing to household cash income (Abidin 2004; Kaguongo et al 2012)
Major sweetpotato growing districts were purposively selected from six different agro-ecological zones to obtain a wide range of household perceptions
Men have been reported in many African countries to dominate cash crop production (World Bank et al 2009)

Summary

Introduction

Lam.) is the world’s sixth most important food crop consumed after rice (Oryza sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), maize (Zea mays L.), and cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) (CIP 2010). It is the third most important root crop grown in eastern Africa after cassava and potato (FAO 2011). Sweetpotato is both a staple and a food security crop in eastern and southern Africa, and is mainly grown by smallholder women farmers (Mutuura et al 1992; Bashaasha et al.1995; Andrade et al 2009). Orange-fleshed sweetpotato is a rich source of beta-carotene, a precursor of bio-available vitamin A, and has potential of combating Vitamin A deficiency among rural resourceconstrained farmers in many developing countries (Jalal et al 1998; Jaarsveld et al 2005; Low et al 2007; Mwanga et al 2003a; Burri 2011)

Methods

Results

Conclusion