Farmers’ perceptions and management practices of insect pests on stored sorghum in southwestern Ethiopia

Surveys were undertaken in six districts of southwestern Ethiopia from July to October 2003 to investigate farmers’ perceptions and management practices of insect pests on traditionally stored sorghum. The survey involved 138 randomly selected farmers who were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Storage insect pests were perceived as the major insect pests of sorghum. The majority of the farmers estimated sorghum yield losses of up to 50% due to insect damage during storage. High temperature and lack of storage hygiene were cited as the major factors resulting in insect infestation of stored sorghum. Infestations of stored sorghum insect pests were common on different forms of sorghum, which stored in various types of farm storage. Farmers classified sorghum varieties according to the level of resistance to stored sorghum insect pests. Only about 32% of the farmers had access to chemical insecticides for the control of stored sorghum insect pests, while the majority of them used cultural practices and locally available plant materials as storage protectants.     

Small-scale farmer perceptions of diatomaceous earth products as potential stored grain protectants in Zimbabwe

Farmers repeated prioritisation of the need for improved methods of controlling insect damage to stored commodities in Zimbabwe led to the search for alternative grain protectants to the locally available organophosphate-based pesticides. In field trials the diatomaceous earth (DE) products, Protect-It^® and Dryacide^®, gave good protection to threshed maize, sorghum and cowpea from insect attack during 8 months storage, enabling households to increase both their food security and control over grain sales. However the initial trials, although on-farm, were researcher-managed and only evaluated by farmers at the end of the storage period. No information existed on how effective DEs were under real farmer management.

At the start of the 1999/2000 storage season, farmers in Buhera and Binga districts set up trials in their own granaries using their own maize and sorghum grain, respectively. During a 7 months storage period they evaluated the application of 0.1% w/w Protect-It^® compared to their typical grain protection methods. At 5 and 7 months storage, farmers compared the treatments using the parameters they view as important such as insect damage, expected ‘sadza’ yield and quality and sale price. The DE treatments outscored other practices for all parameters and farmers were keen to purchase DEs to protect their future harvests. Grain samples from the same trial were also analysed in the laboratory at 5 and 7 months for insect populations, damage and moisture content. Although grain damage and insect numbers were higher in the typical grain protection treatment than the DE treatment, the differences were not statistically significant.     

The metal silo: An effective grain storage technology for reducing post-harvest insect and pathogen losses in maize while improving smallholder farmers’ food security in developing countries

Traditional storage practices in developing countries cannot guarantee protection against major storage pests of staple food crops like maize, leading to 20-30% grain losses, particularly due to post-harvest insect pests and grain pathogens. As a result, smallholder farmers end up selling their grain soon after harvest, only to buy it back at an expensive price just a few months after harvest, falling in a poverty trap. The potential impact on poverty reduction and greater livelihood security will not be realized, however, if farmers are unable to store grains and sell surplus production at attractive prices. Apart from causing quantitative losses, pests in stored grain are also linked to aflatoxin contamination and poisoning. To address this problem, a metal silo was developed as a valid option and proven effective in protecting stored grains from attack by storage insect pests. A metal silo is a cylindrical structure, constructed from a galvanized iron sheet and hermetically sealed, killing any insect pests that may be present. The impact of metal silo technology in Africa, Asia and Latin America includes, improving food security, empowering smallholder farmers, enhancing income opportunities and job creation, and safeguarding the agro-ecosystems. The metal silo can be fabricated in different sizes, 100 kg-3000 kg holding capacity by trained local artisans, with the corresponding prices of $35 to $375. The use of metal silo, therefore, should be encouraged in order to prevent storage losses and enhance food security in developing countries.     

Farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of pests in agroforestry with particular reference to Alnus species in Kabale district, Uganda

Ugandan farmers were interviewed in order to investigate their knowledge, perceptions and ability to manage pests in agroforestry generally and on Alnus species particularly. Farmers’ ability to recognise pest problems on Alnus species was significantly influenced by their length of experience in cultivating the species, but not their age, sex or formal education. Most farmers (77%) were aware of pest problems on Alnus species. However, identification of pest problems was based largely on damage type rather than causal agents. Whereas farmers had good knowledge of vertebrate pests of Alnus, insects and diseases that infest the tree species were unknown to most farmers. Apis mellifera damage on Alnus was the most frequently described damage, but its cause was either unknown or misdiagnosed. Most farmers did not control insect and disease infestations on Alnus because they did not know the causal agents and/or appropriate control measures. Farmers were generally more knowledgeable on insect and disease infestations on crops than on multipurpose tree species (MPTS) and most of them (98%) perceived that crops suffer more damage from such pests than do MPTS. However, farmers’ ability to manage insect pests and diseases seemed weak on both crops and MPTS. Most farmers suggested the use of pesticides to combat pests, but they mentioned only one insecticide, permethrin and one fungicide, mancozeb. More alarming were the suggestions by a few farmers on the use of mancozeb against aphids, and permethrin to combat crop wilt and dieback. Farmers need to be educated about diagnosis, basic ecology and management strategies for both crop and tree pests to ensure sustainable pest control in agroforestry.     

不同施药模式对小麦产量、品质及效益的影响

为优化小麦病虫害防控技术,2008-2010年在成都平原开展了不同施药模式(CK:孕穗期和开花期喷施清水;T1:在孕穗期和开花期喷施杀菌剂防治病害;T2:在孕穗期和开花期喷施杀虫剂防治虫害;T3:在孕穗期和开花期分别喷施杀菌剂和杀虫剂防治病虫害;T4:在开花期一次性混合喷施杀虫剂和杀菌剂防治病虫害)试验,分析了不同处理间小麦病虫害、产量、品质及效益的差异。结果表明:(1)多数测试指标存在显著的年度效应,锈病病株率、白粉病病株率、降落值和多数RVA参数存在显著的年度与处理互作效应;(2)对照处理病虫害发生较重,单独喷施杀虫剂或杀菌剂均不能有效防控病虫危害,分次或混合施用杀虫剂和杀菌剂对病虫害的综合防控效果明显好于单独喷施;(3)施药处理较对照都有明显的增产、增收效果,产量增加6.9%～11.8%,纯收益增加4.3%～8.7%,以杀虫剂和杀菌剂分次喷施处理增幅最大;(4)施药处理对不同品质指标的影响存在较大差异,施药有降低湿面筋含量、沉降值和面团稳定时间的趋势,但都明显提高了降落值和RVA参数值。施药处理均未检出农药残留限值。综合产量、品质和效益,在选择抗病品种的基础上,于开花期实施多类药剂混合喷施不失为小麦节本高效的病虫防控措施。     

Factors determining adoption of integrated pest management by vegetable growers in Nakhon Ratchasima Province,Thailand

Widespread use of highly toxic pesticides primarily for agricultural purpose has generated increasing concerns about the negative impact of pesticides on human health and the environment. Integrated pest management (IPM) usually seeks to minimize the use of pesticides and can be utilized to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment. A total of 220 vegetable farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima Province of Thailand was interviewed with the objective of investigating the factors determining their adoption or non-adoption of IPM practices. The findings demonstrated that farmers had different uncompromising reasons for determining the use of IPM for their insect pest management. Higher costs of insecticides (91%), adverse effects of insecticides on human health and the environment (80%), and a greater risk of insect pests developing resistance to insecticides (28%) were the primary reasons for the adoption of IPM by vegetable growers in the study area. The reasons for the rejection of IPM practice were unsuitability of IPM for a large farm (52%), implementation difficulties (80%) and a greater belief in synthetic insecticides and their efficacy for target pest control (39%). A comparison between the IPM and the non-IPM farmers showed a significant difference (P < 0.01) in farmers' knowledge of pest management, which influenced IPM adoption or non-adoption. The IPM farmers had greater knowledge about identifying natural enemies and their beneficial role in controlling insect pests, about plant extracts and their efficacy in controlling insect pests and about sticky traps and their efficacy in monitoring natural enemies and controlling insect pests. For example, 24% of IPM farmers had knowledge of natural enemies whereas it was only 4% for the non-IPM farmers. A logistic regression model was fitted which showed that lower cost of pest management, better knowledge on IPM after training and availability of extension services were the factors which influenced farmers' adoption of IPM practice. The non-IPM farmers rejected adoption of IPM due to the common belief that natural enemies would not be effective in controlling insect pests and yields of vegetables would not be increased by practicing IPM.     

Effect of Packaging Material on Shelf Life and Quality of Ware Potato Tubers Stored at Ambient Tropical Temperatures

The effect of seven packaging materials (transparent perforated and non-perforated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bags, black perforated and non-perforated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bags, nylon gunny sacks, khaki bags and net bags) on post-harvest quality of tubers from three potato cultivars was evaluated. Data were collected on time and percentage of sprouting, weight loss rates and percentage tubers with greening and rotting. Packaging significantly reduced weight loss and rate of tuber greening but increased the rate of sprouting and decay incidences. Non-perforated PE bags were the most effective in reducing weight losses, recording losses of 0.7 to 0.9% after 32 days in storage while unpackaged tubers had weight losses of 11 to 12%. Tuber rotting was highest (60 to 66% of the tubers) in non-perforated PE bags. Greening was faster in non-packaged tubers recording 55 to 100% after 2 weeks in storage and showed high cultivar differences, but did not occur in black bags, whether perforated or non-perforated. Sprouting was complete by week 3 in all tubers packaged in non-perforated HDPE bags irrespective of cultivar. Although the non-perforated HDPE bag packaging prevented weight loss, its positive effect was counteracted by the high incidence of rotting and sprouting. Amongst the different materials evaluated, perforated low-density black PE bags were the best method for ware potato packaging due to low sprouting, reduced weight loss, low rate of tuber greening and reduced rate of tuber decay compared to other packaging materials. The study also indicated that the interaction between cultivars, packaging and storage period also affected shelf life of ware potatoes under ambient tropical conditions.     

Managing storage pests of maize: Farmers' knowledge,perceptions and practices in western Kenya

Insect pests are a key constraint to effective utilization of cereal crops in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with damage caused by these pests in the stores of particular concern. Although a number of approaches have been advanced for control of storage pests of maize, uptake remains a challenge, with effectiveness of some approaches being questionable. We conducted a survey in western Kenya among 330 respondents using face to face interviews and focus group discussions to evaluate farmers' practices, knowledge and perceptions of storage pests of maize, and their current practices in managing such pests as a basis for development of efficient integrated pest management (IPM) approaches for the pests. Majority of the respondents stored maize in traditional granaries, with less than 10% of them using modern improved facilities, mainly due to inability to afford these. Majority of the respondents also cited attack of their stored grains by a number of insect pests, causing about 40% grain losses. The larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), sawtoothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), and maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), were perceived as the most common and damaging pests. Farmers' perceptions of pests were positively and significantly influenced by level of education and farming experience, indicating that education and experience build farmers' understanding of storage pests. Storing maize in unshelled form seemed to result in less pest attack, although majority of the respondents stored their maize in shelled form. Moreover, local maize varieties were perceived to be resistant to pests. The farmers applied various control methods, with sun-drying being the most popular practice. Usage of pesticides was minimal, mainly due to high costs, lack of information, and unavailability of appropriate and effective products. There were also other cultural methods applied, such as use of smoke and insecticidal plants. The respondents decried lack of training and extension services on storage pests and their management, underscoring the need to develop extension services. The underlying mechanisms of the perceived pest resistance in local varieties of maize and cultural pest management methods need to be established for exploitation in development of effective IPM approaches. There is also need to address the challenges hindering uptake of modern storage and control approaches.     

太阳能灭虫器对花生田蛴螬诱杀效果的初步探讨

应用太阳能灭虫器对花生田蛴螬诱杀效果的调查显示,该灭虫器可诱集到17种害虫,且主要为金龟子类;灯诱防治区相对农民自主化学防治区防治效果为81.28%;灯诱防治区相对农民自主化学防治区花生果和仁受害率下降89.98%;产量对比增产幅度达55.22%。表明该项技术可有效控制花生田蛴螬的危害。     

广西芒果病虫害发生情况和防治现状调查与分析

为准确了解当前广西芒果病虫害的防治现状及存在的问题,本研究通过网络平台、会议交流、实地调查等形式进行调研并统计分析,以期为芒果病虫害的绿色防控提供基础数据。广西芒果产区经营方式主要以家庭农场经营为主,占70.83%;种植品种主要包括‘台农’、‘桂7’、‘金煌’、‘热农1号’、‘贵妃’、‘桂10’和‘金兴’等,且71.58%的果园同时种有2个或2个以上品种。总体上芒果病害的发生为害程度较虫害严重,以芒果细菌性黑斑病和炭疽病最为严重。芒果病虫害使用最普遍的防治方法为施用化学药剂,且98.95%的种植户单次用药选择2种或2种以上混配使用,其中单次选用2~3种药剂混配的占55.32%。对于选择药剂的方式,不同种植年限的种植户不同,总体上,44.34%的种植户依靠自己经验或邻居介绍,36.79%依靠农药店推荐,18.87%按农技人员指导用药。药剂成本的投入在200~1000元/667 m ²不等,但是药剂投入与产量并没有成正比关系。     

种植抗虫品种和减量使用杀虫剂的白背飞虱可持续治理技术的田间试验

采用田间虫情和天敌数量调查、水稻产量与千粒重测定和水稻生产实际收益比较的方法,在浙江富阳和重庆秀山两地进行了种植抗虫品种和减量使用杀虫剂的白背飞虱可持续治理技术的田间试验.设使用杀虫剂2次和农户管理(使用杀虫剂4～5次)两个处理,无杀虫剂作为对照.试验结果表明,抗虫品种嘉花1号在各种杀虫剂处理中,白背飞虱成、若虫数量最低(0.9～3.3只/株),是感虫品种中香1号无杀虫剂处理的0.12%.无杀虫剂处理的蜘蛛数量分别是农户管理和杀虫剂2次处理的2.8～5.5倍和1.6～4.1倍.在同样的杀虫剂处理条件下,抗虫和耐虫品种的稻谷损失量和损失率较感虫品种明显地低.水稻生产的实际收益比较显示,无杀虫剂处理,种植嘉花1号可以增收1.13%～15.91%.因此,稻农种植抗虫或耐虫品种,减量使用杀虫剂至2次或不使用杀虫剂,充分利用蜘蛛等天敌的控制作用,完全能够有效地抑制白背飞虱种群的发生和发展,获得与常规杀虫剂用量(4～5次)相仿或更高的收益.     

Farmers' perspectives of rodent damage and management from the highlands of Tigray,Northern Ethiopian

A farmers' knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) survey was conducted in the highlands of Tigray, northern Ethiopia, to better understand rodent damage and rodent management from the farmers' perspective. Farmers (n = 191) from Dogu'a Temben district, were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The large majority of the farmers stated that rodents are the main pests in crop fields (92.1%) and storage (88.5%). The farmers (64.2%) reported they experienced 100–500 kg ha⁻¹ damage in crop fields, which is equivalent to 8.9–44.7% loss in annual production. There was some overlap between the most common crops grown in the highlands and the most common crops susceptible to rodent attack. Farmers identified barley as the crop most susceptible to rodent attack (76.4%) and the booting stage as the crop developmental stage with the highest rodent abundance and damage. Rodenticide application was the most commonly practiced management strategy in crop fields (51.8%); in storage, farmers mainly keep domestic cats around granaries (80.6%). We recommend a reduction in reliance on chemical rodenticide in crop fields and a shift to a more sustainable rodent management approach to reduce rodent numbers and damage.     

Field assessment of the efficacy and persistence of diatomaceous earths in protecting stored grain on small-scale farms in Zimbabwe

Farmers and grain traders in sub-Saharan Africa are forced to sell stored produce prematurely because of deterioration due mostly to insect damage. Producers expressed a need for a relatively cheap and safe method of insect control. Diatomaceous earths (DE) offer safer alternatives to synthetic chemicals, but information on their efficacy under tropical small-scale farming conditions is lacking. Two commercially available DE products, Protect-It^® and Dryacide^®, were tested against the major post-harvest insect pests of grains and pulses. On-farm field trials in Zimbabwe showed that both inert dusts gave significant protection against insect damage when admixed with farm stored maize, sorghum and cowpeas for periods of 40 weeks. However, efficacy of these DEs is closely linked to the application rates and differs between commodities, locations and insect pests. An admixture application rate of 0.1% w/w of Protect-It^® or Dryacide^® can be recommended to protect both maize and cowpea grain that is to be stored for 4 months or longer in Zimbabwe. However, Dryacide^® was not effective in preventing damage to sorghum grain by the bostrichid Rhyzopertha dominica unless applied at a higher rate of 0.2% w/w.     

Smallholder farmers' knowledge,perceptions and management of pea weevil in north and north-western Ethiopia

Pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum L.) is one of the most serious insect pests of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) in Ethiopia. A survey of 400 farmers was conducted in four main pea-growing districts in north and north-western Ethiopia. The objectives were to assess farmers' knowledge and perceptions of pea weevil, to examine their current pest management practices and to identify challenges to pea weevil control, so that participatory integrated pest management for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia can be developed. The results revealed that most (71%) of the farmers surveyed had knowledge about pea weevil and were able to identify damaged seeds based on common visible symptoms of weevil infestation. However, most farmers did not know that pea weevil attacks plants in the field, but rather considered it a storage pest. The results also showed that farmers' cultural practices influence the incidence and spread of pea weevil and that most farmers did not check seed for pea weevil symptoms before planting. Only a minority of farmers (19%) harvested peas early and some harvested late, unintentionally promoting infestation and carryover of weevils. In addition, most farmers (74%) were not aware of the source and means of weevil spread on their farm and some did not clean up fallen and shattered peas during harvesting and threshing. The majority (63%) of the farmers surveyed relied on chemical insecticides, namely actellic dust and phostoxin, to treat harvested peas in storage. However, the results revealed a knowledge gap in that farmers were well aware of the problem of pea weevil, but lacked knowledge of cultural practices affecting pea weevil and of problems in the use of pesticides. This highlights the need for farmer training and for development of participatory integrated pest management methods for pea weevil.     

闽南地区杨桃主要病虫害及其防治

通过调查闽南地区杨桃病虫害发生情况表明,赤斑病和红蜘蛛在当地发生较为严重;夏秋季多种病虫常混合发生,是防治的关键时期;自然条件好的丘陵山地果园,病虫危害较轻;品种对比调查表明,香蜜杨桃抗病虫性较强。同时,根据杨桃病虫害的发生规律,提出了综合防治措施。     

高温高湿地区套袋处理对火龙果果实品质的影响

为探讨适用于高温高湿地区的火龙果果袋,以红皮红肉型‘桂红龙2号’火龙果为材料,测定5种不同类型果袋套袋后袋内温湿度日变化及对火龙果果实品质、果实病害以及采后果实失水率等的影响。结果表明,套袋后袋内温度升高速度更快,白天袋内温度均显著高于对照;套袋使果皮变薄,增加可食率,促进了果皮鳞片转红,以牛皮纸袋为最高;套袋显著增加了果皮与果肉的色素含量;显著增加了果实可溶性固形物含量,不同程度的提高了葡萄糖和果糖的含量;但套袋也提高了果实苹果酸及柠檬酸的含量。套袋总体上降低了采后水分散失的程度,白色纸袋和无纺布袋有利于降低采后病害发生率,延长货架期。除黑色尼龙网袋以外,套袋均提高了果实煤烟病的发病率。综上,在广西南宁周边高温高湿地区,可使用黑色尼龙网袋,有利于防止鸟啄和虫害,或使用白色纸袋和无纺布袋,有利于延长货架寿命,但采收后要注意煤烟斑的清洗。     

不同规模农户玉米储存损失及其主要影响因素

根据23省(区、市)1 196户农户的调查数据,在测算不同规模农户玉米储存损失的基础上,运用Frac-tional Logit模型研究不同规模农户玉米储存损失原因及其差异.结果表明,随着规模增加,农户玉米储存损失率呈现先下降后上升的趋势,中规模农户的玉米储存损失率最低.实证分析结果表明,不同规模农户玉米储存损失影响因素...     

甘蔗病虫害防治技术及高效低毒农药应用

对严重影响甘蔗生产的8种甘蔗主要害虫和5种甘蔗常见流行性病害的发生危害特点进行了探讨和综述。依据甘蔗病虫害的危害特点,提出以农业防治方法为基础,物理防治灯光诱杀、生物防治为辅,减少虫源病源,统一化防为重点和抓好关键时期科学用药的综合防治措施,从而达到高效、快速、持续、有效控制甘蔗病虫害的发生危害,确保甘蔗生产持续稳定健康发展。     

Crop losses and the economic impact of insect pests on Brazilian agriculture

Among the various sectors of the Brazilian economy, agriculture plays a prominent role, generating jobs and income for the country. However, the agricultural sector faces systematic annual losses due to pests and diseases. The damage caused by insect pests is one of the primary factors leading to the reduced production of major crops. The study presented here estimates the production losses of major crops caused by insects and the economic impact related to the direct damage caused by insects, to the purchase of insecticides, and to medical treatment for humans poisoned by insecticides. The results indicate that insect pests cause an average annual loss of 7.7% in production in Brazil, which is a reduction of approximately 25 million tons of food, fiber, and biofuels. The total annual economic losses reach approximately US$ 17.7 billion. These results are important for government policies in the agricultural sector, as well as indicate the need for updated data regarding the losses caused by insects in Brazil and the need for systematic monitoring of these losses.     

崂山茶区茶树主要害虫的生态控制技术

根据崂山茶区的生态环境和主要害虫的发生特点,本文提出一套适合本茶区应用的控制技术:在茶园间作紫花苜蓿、茶园周边种植防护林或留草等生态恢复技术,以改善茶园生态环境,蓄养天敌,发挥天敌对害虫的自然控制作用;加强对害虫发生情况的监测,结合采茶等农艺活动,对害虫实施点片防治或人工防治;秋茶结束后喷施化学农药,以消灭在茶园越冬的害虫,或用纱网覆盖茶蓬,阻止绿盲蝽回迁茶园产卵越冬。