Abstract
The red palm weevil (RPW) (Rhynchophorus ferruginous) is one of the most serious pest insects threatening the sustainability of the date palm sector (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Nevertheless, a gap exists in the body of knowledge regarding patterns in farmers’ adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) for RPW control and how their knowledge of RPW symptomology influences IPM adoption. Data were collected using structured questionnaires from 183 palm growers in Al-Ahsa Governorate, Saudi Arabia. The results indicate that most farmers had insufficient knowledge to visually diagnose RPW symptoms and damage. Farmers moderately adopted preventive measures recommended for protection from RPW infestation. Only 13.11% of the farmers exhibited a high rate of adoption of pest management practices for RPW control and eradication. The findings revealed a strong positive association (0.8, p < 0.01) between the knowledge level regarding symptoms and IPM adoption level, whereby the respondents with more knowledge of RPW symptoms showed a higher level of adoption in all IPM categories. This study contributes to the development of our understanding of the social behaviors and risks associated with RPW. This might enhance the quality of awareness campaigns and extension programs and assist in developing a visual inspection protocol for RPW infestation for farmers.
Highlights
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an important fruit crop in arid regions, such as the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and the Middle East [1]
It was found that Saudi palm farmers require support to visually diagnose the symptoms of red palm weevil (RPW)
An in-depth examination of the relationships between knowledge of RPW symptoms and integrated pest management (IPM) adoption demonstrates an interesting interplay between the two components
Summary
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an important fruit crop in arid regions, such as the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and the Middle East [1]. Saudi Arabia ranked third after Egypt and Iran in total date production in 2018, contributing 15% of all dates produced globally [2]. The date serves as an essential source of essential nutrients, especially dietary potassium [4,5]. It features several medicinal qualities, namely, anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-tumor, anti-ulcer, and immunomodulatory properties [6]. The number of palm trees in Saudi Arabia has increased, their average yield is lower than other date-producing countries [7] due to the low yield potential of certain varieties, insect pests and plant diseases, and poor management practices [8,9]
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