Perception of Mealybug Wilt Effect and Management among Pineapple Farmers in Ghana

Abstract

Mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP) is a major viral disease of pineapple [Ananas comosus (L) Merr.] in Ghana. Its incidence and extent of damage have not been extensively studied in the country. The study was conducted to determinepineapple farmers’ perception on the effect and management of the MWPdisease in Ghana. Structured interview schedule and questionnaires were used to solicit information from 227 pineapple farmers in the Central and Eastern regions of Ghana. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics into percentage, mean and standard deviation.The majority(73.1%) of the respondents aged between 31 and 50 years and were mainly Senior Secondary or Senior High School leavers (52.2%) who had been growing pineapples between 5 and 20years (82.6%). All respondents indicated that they had experienced the MWP in their pineapple farms and were able to give a vivid description of the disease symptoms. The farmers further indicated that the severity of MWP was high in Smooth cayenne (100%), sugar loaf (96.9%) and Queen Victoria (91.2%) but low in MD2 (%??) varieties of pineapple. More than two-thirds of respondents indicated that they were losing between 1% and 20% of their yield per hectare and up to GHȻ 1000.00 per hectare to the disease. The majority of the respondents manage MWP in their farms by practicing land fallowing, avoiding infected mother plots for suckers, treat soil, mother plots and suckers with insecticides, to destroy mealybug vectors and their ant symbionts.