An evaluation of smallholder farmers' knowledge,perceptions, choices and gender perspectives in vegetable pests and diseases control practices in the humid tropics of Cameroon

The use of pesticides on vegetables in Sub-Saharan Africa by small-scale farmers dates back to several decades. However, little research has been conducted to capture farmers’ perception on pesticide use on vegetables. This study aims to identify and evaluate farmers’ local knowledge and perception of vegetable pests and diseases and their protection and management practices in humid tropics of Cameroon. Key informant and focus group interviews complemented with quantitative one-on-one structured interviews of 130 farm households and observational assessments were employed. Standard vegetables such as chili pepper are the preferred vegetables in Bafoussam area, whereas traditional vegetables dominate in the Buea and Ebolowa area. Among over 15 vegetables, more than 60% are in the traditional African vegetables category, with insect infestation and fungal infection known to be the most critical biotic production constraints. Successful intensification and diversification of cocoa-based systems with vegetables will require increasing awareness on safer production methods, long-term harmful effects of pesticide misuse, and strengthening the capacity of regulatory agencies responsible for preventing importation of banned pesticides.     

农作物病虫害防治农药速查系统构建与应用

为了让农户能够直观了解及掌握常见病虫害的防治信息,帮助农户通过智能手机在农田、果园和茶园等现场方便快捷地获取作物病虫害图文识别要点与科学防治方法,为农户提供在线植保技术服务,本研究采用RESTful Web 服务架构设计,运用HTML5移动Web开发技术,借助微信平台作为用户访问入口,开发了一款跨平台 (android/iOS) 的农药速查软件系统,实现了农药信息查询、病虫害图谱查询及后台数据管理等功能。通过建立农药与病虫害间的关联关系,实现了从农药名称和病虫害名称两个途径查询农药信息;所构建的数据库涵盖了蔬菜、果树、水稻、茶叶及烟草等共30种福建省常规种植作物上的重要病虫害农药防治技术。初步运用验证结果表明,该系统整体实用性和稳定性较好,适合在农村基层推广应用。基于微信平台的农药速查系统能够满足植保新技术普及和应用的需求,可为农户提供简单便捷、对症下药的在线植保科技服务,对提高用户安全施药和科学防控能力、推进农药的增效减量均具有重要意义。     

Integrated pest management of coffee for small-scale farmers in East Africa: needs and limitations

Coffee in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) is an important cash and export crop for small-scale farmers. The crop suffers heavy yield losses due to damage caused by a wide range of indigenous pests (insects, diseases, nematodes and weeds). Current recommended pest control measures include a combination of cultural, resistant/tolerant cultivars and the use of broad spectrum chemical pesticides. Chemical pesticides are far more popular at the farm level than any of the other recommended pest control measures. Coffee pest control strategies are often aimed at individual pests with little consideration of the implications for the total coffee pest complex and its agro-ecosystem. This unilateral approach has resulted in increased pest pressure on coffee and some of its companion crops, outbreak of new pests of coffee, development of pest strains resistant to the cheap and commonly available chemical pesticides, increased environmental problems, increased health risks to man and livestock and an overall increase in the costs of coffee production, thus forcing many farmers to neglect their coffee plantations. Measures to alleviate the above problems, particularly the high production costs, are needed to improve coffee production and increase the cash return to the small-scale farmer. Integrated pest management (IPM) offers the best prospects for solving the above problems. However, lack of national IPM policies, poor extension systems, inefficient research-extension-farmer linkage and the lack of a holistic approach will delay the development and implementation of appropriate, acceptable and sustainable IPM practices.     

宁波出口蔬菜基地农药残留量的监控

为了有效地应对入世后出口蔬菜面临的种种技术壁垒挑战．2002年11月份起从出口蔬菜基地灌溉水和土壤农药残留普查、蔬菜农药残留量检测、基地所用农药有效成分分析、日本官方未登记农药监控4个方面,实施对宁波出口蔬菜基地农药残留量的监控工作。结果表明,基地灌溉水和土壤农药残留污染轻微,土壤农药残留量达到我国土壤环境质量一级与二级标准;蔬菜农药残留量控制良好,农药残留量均未超过输入国规定的限量要求：农药有效成分经分析与标识一致：重点监控了日本官方未登记或登记已失效而在宁波地区个别农民可能使用的农药,确保蔬菜的卫生质量。     

Determinants of farmers’ decisions on pesticide use in oriental tobacco: a survey of common practices

Information about pesticide use and perceptions of their risks among farmers is important for identifying problems associated with pest-control decisions and developing appropriate management practices in given crops. In tobacco, a plant sensitive to many pests and diseases, such information is lacking. The patterns of pesticide use in oriental tobacco, as well as the most important factors for farmers’ decisions relating to chemical pest control were studied among randomly selected farmers in northern Greece on the basis of self-reported information acquired through a pre-tested questionnaire. High reliance of farmers on pesticides and field use of all well-known classes of chemical pesticides were reported. While all the active ingredients reported were registered for pest control in tobacco, they differed considerably in terms of toxicity. A normal cropping season received at least 14–16 pesticide applications for soil disinfection, pest control, and weed control. Most farmers stated that they usually spray chemicals on a calendar basis or on the first appearance of a pest. Efficacy on target pests and market price of the pesticide products to be used were the most important criteria for selection of pesticides, i.e. products that are considered to be highly effective and/or that are cheap are more likely to be selected. Better-educated and more experienced farmers were found to pay more attention to environmental safety and pesticide toxicity. Most farmers felt that pesticide use can reduce crop damage by more than 75%, assuring high yields. Main determinants of pesticide use were primarily the fear of severe yield and economic losses and the doubts about the effectiveness and the correct implementation of alternative pest-control methods. Pesticide use could be reduced by exposing farmers to improved pest-control practices such as site-specific integrated pest management.     

浆角蚜小蜂防治温室白粉虱的应用研究

温室白粉虱是温室蔬菜的重要害虫,不仅由于取食造成这些植物的直接危害,而且还传播一些植物病毒病的病原.近年来,农民在温室中大量使用化学药剂来防治温室白粉虱,结果造成农药残留严重超标.本文采用生物防治的方法,对浆角蚜小蜂防治白粉虱的效果进行了研究与探讨.     

新疆有毒植物资源及其植物源杀虫剂开发应用前景

植物源杀虫剂(botanical insecticides)就是利用植物的某些部位或提取成分,加工成有杀虫作用的杀虫剂。在新疆,有毒植物资源种类繁多。通过介绍新疆有毒植物的资源概况,讨论有毒植物作为农业杀虫剂的应用现状和存在问题,提出其种质资源作为植物源杀虫剂的开发利用前景。     

Farmers’ attitudes towards pesticide labels: implications for personal and environmental safety

The label of pesticide containers is a major source of information for the use of pesticides, but research on whether farmers use this information is scarce. A survey of small-scale cotton farmers was conducted in the area of Punjab, Pakistan, to study attitudes related with the use of pesticide labels. The majority of the farmers (97%) stated that they were using pesticide products purchased in their original containers and accompanied by written information for use. However, 73% of the farmers reported that they usually do not read this information. Elderly, less educated, and experienced farmers in chemical pest control, but without previous training, were found to be less likely to read the labels. A large part of the farmers (34%) stated that they primarily rely on information of pesticide retailers for pesticide use, while nearly four out of ten said they usually rely on other sources of information or their own experience with pesticides. A sizeable proportion of the farmers (9%) mentioned that there is no need to receive information on such issues. Effective pesticide risk communication conveyed through label information is important so that potential risks from pesticide handling may be mitigated at the point of use.     

人工智能在农药精准施药应用中的研究进展

传统农药施药方式大多依靠人工经验识别单位种植面积内作物的主要病虫草害并针对该症状均匀连续喷洒农药。该方法难以根据作物的不同病虫草害种类和严重程度及时调整农药种类及用量,可能会导致不足或过量用药,喷洒在非症状区域的农药还会对生态环境造成污染。精准施药技术在平衡使用农药与保护生态安全之间给出了一种有效的解决方案,值得大力推广。近年来,人工智能技术的发展推动了精准施药相关研究。为进一步总结人工智能在农药精准施药关键技术中的应用进展,探索人工智能在农药精准施药未来发展方向,本文分析了人工智能在农药精准施药关键技术领域的应用现状,并展望了人工智能在农药精准施药应用中的发展趋势。     

Farmer perceptions and pesticide use practices in vegetable production in Ghana

As an initial part of a programme aimed at promoting safe and sound agricultural practices in Ghana, a study was made of farmers' perceptions of pesticides for use and application in vegetable production, using a small survey of 137 farmers who applied pesticides. Field surveys, interviews, questionnaires and analytical games were used to obtain information on the type, scope and extent of use of pesticides, farmers' knowledge of pesticides, and their perceptions about the chemicals' potential for harm. Data from this sample of farmers were used to describe the status of use of pesticides in vegetable cultivation in Ghana. Using chi2 tests, associations between farmers' age and possible pesticide poisoning symptoms, their farm size and method of spraying pesticides, and their perception of pesticide hazard and its perceived effectiveness against pests were also examined. The survey showed that knapsack sprayers were the most widely used type of equipment for spraying pesticides. However, on large-scale vegetable farms of 6-10 acres, motorised sprayers were also used. Various inappropriate practices in the handling and use of pesticides caused possible poisoning symptoms among those farmers who generally did not wear protective clothing. Younger farmers (<45 years of age) were the most vulnerable group, probably because they did more spraying than older farmers (>45 years of age). Farmers did not necessarily associate hazardous pesticides with better pest control. The introduction of well-targeted training programmes for farmers on the need for and safe use of pesticides is advocated.     

宁波出口蔬菜农药残留量的监控

为了有效应对入世后出口蔬菜面临的种种技术壁垒挑战．2002年11月份起，从出口蔬菜成品的农药残留量检测和退货的农药残留量验证2个方面实施对宁波出口蔬菜的农药戏留量的监控工作。结果表明成品农药残留量控制良好．农药残留量均未超过输入国规定的限量要求；退货农药残留量验证时超标原因分析准确．并采取有效整改措施．杜绝类似现象再度发生．     

农药有效利用率与喷雾技术优化

提高农药的有效利用率是植保工作者非常关心的问题。本文阐述了农药有效利用率的广义和狭义涵义,并分析了农药使用中存在的药剂浪费、有效利用率低的问题。根据喷雾技术中的“剂量传递”过程,分析了农药有效利用率的狭义涵义,在春季果园和作物苗期,常规喷雾法的农药有效利用率只有20%~30%;在夏秋季果园和作物中后期,随着作物叶面积系数（LAI）的增加,农药的有效利用率可达到50%~60%。论文分析了造成农药有效利用率低的原因,提出喷雾技术的优化措施：（1）大田喷雾时采用机动喷杆喷雾替代背负式手动常规喷雾,可以改善雾滴沉积分布的均匀性;（2）添加喷雾助剂可以提高药液在靶标表面的润湿性;（3）优化雾滴粒径,采用细雾滴替代粗雾滴可以提高雾滴的中靶率;（4）降低施药液量可以减少药液流失;（5）加装挡板可以减少雾滴飘失等。通过以上技术的优化,可以大幅度提高农药的有效利用率,达到减量增效的目的。     

Small-scale vegetable producers’ perception of pests and pesticide uses in East Shewa zone,Ethiopia

Vegetable growers’ knowledge of pest and their control method was assessed in 2014 in East Shewa zone, Ethiopia. Vegetable growers were well aware of key pests of vegetables, although some of them did not consider pests as constraint to vegetable production. All respondents scouted their vegetables for pests and used presence or absence of pest as criterion for spraying. About 76% of the respondents read pesticide label before buying pesticides, while the rest 24% of the respondents did not read pesticide labels. All vegetable growers sprayed insecticide, whereas fungicides and herbicides were applied by 90% and 7% of the respondents, respectively. About 72% of the respondents washed their sprayer after each application day and discharged the washings onto the soil. Moreover, the majority (62%) of the respondents threw empty pesticide containers around the field. Also, it was found that 71% of the respondents did not use personal protective equipment (PPE) while spraying pesticides, but a few used one or two types of PPE. More than half of the respondents sprayed pesticides on mature crops and sold the produce within three to five days.     

International pesticide use information system for exporting vegetables and fruit

Abstract

An online information system was developed to allow US growers to search pesticide application information for export of vegetables and fruits. By entering an export country, a crop name, pesticide type, and post harvest interval, a user can obtain a list of pesticides labeled for the crop, the pesticides suitable for use with export, and the associated pesticide application restriction (PAR) information for each pesticide in the recommended list. A relational database (Microsoft SQL Server 2000) was used to house the PAR data, pesticide labels, and pesticide maximum residue limit information (MRL). These data were obtained from governmental agencies and international organizations. The data were then entered into the system using an online data entry system developed using ColdFusion programming language. The database currently contains the registration information for over 1,100 pesticides, 20,000 MRL data entries, and 20,000 PAR entries. New data are updated frequently. The project web site is http://cipm.ncsu.edu/exportMRL.     

山西省芹菜农残检测结果分析及治理对策

通过对山西省2009—2013年生产基地、批发市场和超市芹菜中40种农药残留进行抽样检测,结果表明,山西省芹菜中农药残留超标率总体呈下降趋势,但相对其他类别的蔬菜,超标率仍然较高。批发市场最高,超市次之,生产基地则相对较低。通过对比分析,外省芹菜样品农药残留超标率比本省样品高出0.8个百分点。在超标的农药品种中,禁用农药甲拌磷和非禁用农药毒死蜱相对较多。本文针对性地提出了严管剧高毒农药、提高农民素质、实行产地准出和市场准入、加强检验检测体系建设等治理对策。     

Recent Developments in Pesticide Application by the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service1

Aerial application of pesticides is generally the method used by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the control of pests of rangeland, cultivated crops, and forested areas. With increased restrictions placed on pesticides, then- continued use requires improved application technology to meet acceptable levels of risk at reasonable cost The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of USDA is developing an aerial spray drift model for use by their field personnel to minimize drift from aerial application of pesticides to environmentally sensitive areas. Input information utilizing a low cost, field-deployable microcomputer includes aircraft type, application technique and hardware, pesticide formulation, meteorological conditions, and type (roughness) and extent of the site. Expected output computations will be: 1) distribution pattern of downwind deposition, including evaporation corrections and matching to empirical field measurement; 2) optimal aircraft swath spacing; and 3) buffer distance between the target area and the environmentally sensitive areas.     

四种重要实蝇类害虫对福建省造成的经济损失评估

实蝇类害虫是世界性检疫害虫，对福建省农作物造成为害的主要包含橘小实蝇、南亚寡鬃实蝇、瓜实蝇、具条实蝇4种。这4种实蝇类害虫给福建省水果、蔬菜带来较为严重的经济损失，并且由于防治过程中农药的使用，造成生态环境问题。本研究选取实蝇类害虫为害较为严重的福建省主要水果和蔬菜作为研究对象，从直接经济损失、防治费用和间接经济损失3个层面建立评估模型，并对2016年4种实蝇类害虫造成的经济损失进行评估，旨在通过评估经济损失情况，为今后防治政策的制定提供思路。研究结果显示，这4种实蝇类害虫对福建省造成的经济损失约为313.48亿元，其中直接经济损失约为221.74亿元，防治费用约为84.24亿元，间接经济损失约为7.5亿元。最后，本研究提出了重视有害生物灾情评估、完善经济损失评价方法，开展农户专业培训、提升防控技术水平，加强环境规制力度、发展绿色生态农业等政策建议。     

植保无人飞机低空低容量喷雾技术应用与展望

近十年来,我国植保无人飞机迅猛发展,应用的农作物范围越来越广,不仅在水稻、小麦、玉米等主要粮食作物得到了应用,在橡胶、槟榔等高大植株的病虫害防治中更有其独特优势,已经初步形成了我国植保无人飞机低空低容量喷雾的喷头配置、配套药剂、飞防助剂、作业参数等技术体系,对于重要农作物病虫害如稻纵卷叶螟、水稻纹枯病、小麦蚜虫、玉米黏虫等防治效果均在80%以上,在各地病虫害防控中发挥了重要作用。但是,植保无人飞机喷雾作业过程中,还存在炸机或失控、雾滴飘移药害、药液分层结块、防治效果不稳定等问题。通过汇总分析植保无人飞机在重要病虫草害防治工作的成功经验和安全事故,本文提出植保无人飞机低容量喷雾技术将会得到更广泛的应用,植保无人飞机专用药剂和配套助剂、变量施药、多传感器数据融合、多机协同、精准施药、施药标准和规范等都将得到长足的发展,为现代农业和智慧农业发展提供技术支持。     

我国蔬菜及特色作物用药现状及对策探讨

本文简要介绍了我国蔬菜及特色作物病虫害发生和用药现状;分析了因缺乏登记可用农药,生产中乱用、滥用农药给蔬菜及特色农产品质量安全带来的隐患、对蔬菜及特色作物产业持续健康发展造成的影响,以及当前解决蔬菜及特色作物安全用药的环境条件;探讨了提高蔬菜及特色作物安全用药水平的对策。     

Jointness in farmers' decision to apply pesticides in multiple crops and its determinants at the farm level in Bangladesh

Decision about pesticide application for pest control is an issue of major concern, but research on factors affecting decision-making is limited. This study investigates jointness in farmers' decision to apply pesticides in multiple crops and socio-economic determinants of pesticide use across crops using a survey of 2083 farms from 17 districts in Bangladesh applying a multivariate Tobit model. Overall, 75.4% and 12.7% of the farmers applied pesticides in one and two crops, respectively. The decision to apply pesticides in multiple crops was found to be negatively correlated, providing evidence of jointness. Also, individual socio-economic factors exerted variable influences on pesticide use in different crops. Output price significantly increases pesticide use whereas the influence of fertilizer price and labour wage is varied. Educated farmers use significantly more pesticides in rice and oilseed. Marginal and small farmers use significantly less pesticides in wheat/maize and pulse. Policy implications include price policies to reduce fertilizer prices and engaging agricultural extension agencies and non-governmental organizations to disseminate information on specific crop combinations which will synergistically reduce pesticide use.