Adoption Of Pest Management Practices Research Articles

The role of farming systems in the adoption of pest management practices: the case of the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis in mango orchards in Senegal

Description of the suject. In Africa, pest pressure has led researchers, policymakers, and international development stakeholders to develop and disseminate innovative pest management strategies. However, farmers reject some pest management strategies due to economic constraints, agronomic problems, or incompatibilities with their strategies, knowledge bases, and visions of desirable change. Objectives. In this paper, we study the pest management practices employed by mango producers from different farming systems against the fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis, as well as the factors determining the level of engagement of these producers in managing this pest. Method. We surveyed 304 Senegalese mango growers affected by the invasive fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis to understand which farming systems’ features could explain the adoption level of fruit fly management tools through multivariate data analysis. Results. Three types of farming systems characterized by a coherent set of varietal choices, orchard management, harvest practices, commercial outlets, and fruit fly management practices are identified: (1) Intensive farming systems supplying the export market with the variety Kent and using a large set of orchard management tools and harvest practices to eliminate fruit flies, (2) Extensive farming systems supplying various varieties of mangoes with a dominance of Kent to both export and domestic markets, with access to fruit fly management tools from public services, (3) Gathering farming systems characterized by zero-input, high varietal diversity, difficult market access, non-selective harvest practices, and fruit fly management rarely practiced. Conclusions. The farming systems form a gradient of increasing use of fruit fly management tools and inputs, access to extension services, and export market orientation. Their coexistence in the same territories significantly contributes to the inefficiency of the control measures against Bactrocera dorsalis. Our results support the premise that in Africa, the adoption of pest management tools is more deeply integrated into the practices of certain producers compared to others, due to internal and external factors influencing the operation.

Influences of Socio-economic Factors on Lemon Pest Management Practices in Tangail District of Bangladesh

Aims: The main objective of the study was to explore the influences of socio-demographic factors of lemon cultivators on accepting pest management practices.
 Study Design: A total of 120 lemon growers of the Tangail district were selected as samples following the proportionate random sampling technique. Primary data were collected from sampled respondents using a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire by face-to-face interview.
 Results and Discussion: Findings indicate that majority of the respondents were middle-aged (69.2%), having a secondary level of education (47.5%), small farm size (73.3%), medium family size (57.5%), and medium use of information sources (74.2%). Farmers use chemical, mechanical, and cultural pest management practices, with the majority of respondents had a moderate degree of adoption. Education, annual family income, contact with the source of information, and organizational participation of the respondents showed positive significant relationships with their adoption of pest management practices. High input price, low market price of the product, disease, and pest attack was identified as the major problems faced by the lemon growers.
 Conclusion: Adoption of pest management practices significantly influenced by socio-economic factors of lemon growers. Hence, agricultural extension agents should step forward to work with different groups of farmers for raising their knowledge of integrated pest control and improve expertise in lemon cultivation. Furthermore, the government should take the requisite steps to address issues such as high production costs, low commodity prices, and disease and pest infestation.

Pest Risk Analysis and Management Practices for Increasing Profitability of Lemon Production

The study aimed at assessing the pest risk and management practices of lemon production and its profitability in Tangail district of Bangladesh. Household survey was conducted by an interview schedule from 120 lemon growers who were selected as sample respondents following a proportionate random sampling technique. Lemon butterfly and dieback disease were identified as important problems in lemon cultivation. Lemon butterfly was found with the highest infestation in Elachi lemon (70.0%) and Kagozi lemon (57.0%). Dieback disease was found with the highest infestation rate of 49.3% in Elachi lemon, 38.0% in Kagozi lemon, and 33.3% in Sakara-2 variety. Almost 82.5 percent of the respondents had medium to high adoption of pest management practices. The adoption of pest management practices was positively related to the profitability of lemon cultivation. However, there is further scope to make pest management practices sustainable by enhancing the adoption of biological, cultural, and mechanical approaches.

Sustainable Management of the Red Palm Weevil: The Nexus between Farmers’ Adoption of Integrated Pest Management and Their Knowledge of Symptoms

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.

Analysing the potential of plant clinics to boost crop protection in Rwanda through adoption of IPM: the case of maize and maize stem borers

Maize plays an important role in the livelihoods of rural communities in Rwanda. However, maize yields are threatened by the presence of pests and diseases and a general lack of knowledge and information for their management. In this study we sought to assess if plant clinics are making farmers more aware and knowledgeable of pests and diseases and are indirectly contributing to higher yields. We interviewed 644 farmers across Rwanda, both users and non-users of plant clinics. Propensity score matching was used to match the users and non-users of plant clinics and logistic regression was used to assess a number of factors, including interactions with plant clinics, that affect farmers’ adoption of pest management practices. Our analysis shows that users of plant clinics are more aware and knowledgeable in recognizing and handling maize stem borers. Furthermore, users of plant clinics have on average higher yields than non-users and this difference is highly significant (P < 0.001). The analysis therefore demonstrates that plant clinics are beneficial to farmers in Rwanda. However, efforts are required to diversify the spectrum of practices that are promoted by plant clinics and by extension and advisory services in Rwanda.

Identification of Training Needs of the Coconut Growers in Sri Lanka

The coconut farming sector in Sri Lanka has been facing many problems which eventually led to a decrease in production and profitability in coconut farming. The main reason for the decrease in production has been the non adoption of scientific technologies primarily due to the lack of technical knowledge of coconut growers on scientific cultivation practices. Hence, a study was undertaken to assess the technical knowledge and the level of adoption of management practices with a view to identify and prioritize the training needs of coconut growers’. Training needs of the growers were assessed using the Borich Needs Assessment Model. The identified training needs were filtered by quadrant analysis. The discrepancy score of grower’s and the coconut development officers’ of the three districts were used as the dimensions of the quadrant analysis. The training needs were identified under four categories namely, planting practices, fertilizer application practices, agronomy practices and pest management practices. The study revealed that the most knowledgeable aspect was the planting practices and the least knowledgeable was the pest management practices, as evidenced by higher level of adoption of planting practices and the least adoption of pest management practices. It was concluded from the study that the most desirable training need was on the pest management practices followed by fertilizer application practices in the coconut triangle of Sri Lanka.

Effects Of Educational Workshops On Farmers’ Pest Management Training Needs

The heavy use of pesticides in Iran not only has critically harmful health effects on the farmers, but also harms the environment and consumer’s health. One of the best approaches for overcoming this problem can be adoption of pest management practices and IPM (integrated pest management) systems by farmers. Farmers’ pest management training needs has been considered, as prerequisites to IPM adoption. In Iran the most prevalent training method for training farmers in different fields such as IPM is extension education workshops. The main purpose of this study was to investigate and to compare workshop effect on farmer’s pest management training needs. A survey was conducted among 90 farmers inKaraj County that included 30 workshop participants, 30 farmers who had exposed to workshop participants, and 30 randomly selected farmers. A questionnaire to assess pest management competencies were designed. Data were collected through structured interviews with respondents at their farms. The study found that training needs ranking among threegroups was different. For example top three training needs of workshop participants, non workshop participants and control group were: biological control for pests, identification of various types of insect damage, recognition of major crop diseases versus knowledge of pest control options, knowledge of IPM and biological control for pests and versus identify application times frequency, method and amount, awareness of different pesticides and pesticide safety, respectively.

Adoption of Pest Management Practices by Vegetable Growers: A Case Study

In 1990, 10 years after research and Extension IPM programs were initiated for vegetables in Texas, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) began assessing grower practices from field survey data. In 1999, researchers from Texas A & M University used the NASS data to evaluate IPM practices used by onion and cabbage growers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. They found that previous research and extension education on economic thresholds and other tactics provided a technology base for IPM programs. A PAMS (prevention, avoidance, monitoring, and suppression) model was used to evaluate pest management practices. Preventive tactics included crop rotation (on 72% of the acreage) and planting of pest-resistant cultivars (51%). Avoidance tactics included altering planting dates (36%) and managing irrigation schedules (19%). 94% of the vegetable production was scouted for pests, but <60% was treated with insecticide. Farmers and their employees did 60% of the scouting, and chemical dealers monitored <15% of the vegetable crops. However, once farmers decided to treat, the chemical dealers were the main source of information in selecting cost-effective, efficacious pesticides. Crop consultants and Extension Service advisers were also important sources of information (52%), whereas field days, special events, and use of the mass media were less important. The impact of vegetable IPM programs was assessed by evaluating changes in insecticide use in cabbage and onions over an 8-yr period. A quantitative assessment showed that insecticide use in cabbage decreased from 4.1 to 1.6 lb of active ingredient per acre because of less use of organophosphates and carbamates. Insecticide use in onion decreased from 1.7 to 0.9 lb per acre over the 8-yr period primarily because of increased substitution of pyrethroids, which were applied at lower rates. When environmental indices were used to evaluate qualitative changes, there was a 77% reduction in the environmental impact of insecticide use in cabbage production and a 73% reduction in onion. Survey data indicate that producers widely adopted IPM tactics, significantly reduced pesticide use, and used ecologically friendly chemicals, consistent with policies advocated by state and federal agencies.