Potential Adoption of Integrated Pest Management Strategy for Suppression of Mango Fruit Flies in East Africa: An Ex Ante and Ex Post Analysis in Ethiopia and Kenya

Beatrice W Muriithi,Gracious M Diiro,Samira A Mohamed,Nancy G Gathogo,Sunday Ekesi

doi:10.3390/agriculture10070278

Beatrice W Muriithi, Gracious M Diiro + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10070278

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Abstract

To sustain agricultural development in Africa, innovative strategies for addressing a myriad of biotic and abiotic constraints facing the agricultural systems must be established. One current biotic stress is the mango infesting fruit flies. In the effort to contain the widely spreading and damaging invasive species of tephritid fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) (Hendel), an area-wide integrated pest management (IPM) program is being promoted in the horticultural sub-sector in sub-Saharan Africa. Such a new technology in which farmers have limited information before commercialization may have diffusion paths that are different from the often-assumed sigmoid (or “s”) shaped curve. We apply the descriptive and econometric analysis of ex ante and ex post integrated fruit fly management used by mango farmers in Kenya and Ethiopia. The results reveal that this technology has a relatively high adoption rate and high prospects for adoption growth in Kenya compared to Ethiopia in the near future.

Highlights

Agriculture remains the main economic activity in many developing countries in sub-SaharanAfrica
In Kenya and Ethiopia, mango is important to smallholder farmers who are dominantly involved in fruit production
Production of mango is widespread in the world, with estimated area coverage and annual production of 3.69 million hectares and 35 million tons, respectively [4], only about 5% of this production is exported, with fruit flies cited as the main challenge that contributes to this disparity [5]

Summary

Introduction

Agriculture remains the main economic activity in many developing countries in sub-SaharanAfrica. Agriculture remains the main economic activity in many developing countries in sub-Saharan. Horticultural farming is the fastest-growing agricultural sector in these countries [1] and contributes significantly to poverty reduction, food security, and export earnings [2]. Any effort to strengthen the horticultural sector could contribute greatly to the success in attaining the millennium development goals of sub-Saharan Africa [3]. Mango is one of the most economically important tropical fruit in sub-Saharan Africa. Production of mango is widespread in the world, with estimated area coverage and annual production of 3.69 million hectares and 35 million tons, respectively [4], only about 5% of this production is exported, with fruit flies cited as the main challenge that contributes to this disparity [5]

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