Grower perceptions of biotic and abiotic risks of potato production in South Africa |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa;2. Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa;3. Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Center, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands;1. Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa;2. Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa;3. Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa;1. Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa;2. Department of Crop Science, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe;3. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa;1. Soil Conservation Group, Agriculture Department (Field Wing), Government of the Punjab, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan;2. Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan;3. Department of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan;4. Civil Engineering Department, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan;5. National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan |
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Abstract: | Growers' surveys took place in all sixteen potato growing regions of South Africa in 2013 and 2014. The agro-ecological climate of these regions is diverse and potato is produced in rainy or dry seasons, in winter or summer seasons, or year round. Growers were asked how often in ten years crops suffered more than 25% yield losses due to extreme weather events related to precipitation events such as hail, floods and droughts, and to temperature-related events such as frost and heat waves. Simultaneously they were asked their opinion about occurrence and severity of diseases caused by potato viruses, fungi and bacteria and pests such as nematodes, tuber moths, aphids and leaf miners. Weather related hazards resulted in losses over 25% virtually each year in the Gauteng growing region due to hail, frosts and floods; losses occurred less than once every five years, for example due to extremely high temperatures, in the Sandveld area where growers take a risk by producing potatoes in hot summers. Regarding the biotic factors, every pest or pathogen assessed was reported to occur on at least one farm in each growing region. Countrywide the lowest frequency of 50% was recorded for powdery scab whereas the insects tuber moths, leaf miners and aphids were reported most frequently, by between 88% and 98% of the growers. The complex of silver scurf and black dot resulted in the greatest yield losses in all growing regions, followed closely by tuber moth, early blight and the blackleg/soft rot disease complex. Yield losses due to potato virus Y, potato leaf roll virus and aphids were not reported as being very severe. When the growers' perceptions of severity of biotic factors were accumulated, significant differences between the regions appeared, with the Eastern Cape most prone with an accumulated score of 700 due to an array of pests and diseases, and the North–West with a score of only 50 mainly attributed to root knot nematodes. Growers were also asked how frequently biocides were applied to potato to control soil-borne organisms (nematicide and seed treatment), foliar fungi or insects. There were no significant correlations between frequency of biocide applications and severity of the disease as reflected in yield losses, most likely because growers use biocide applications as insurance against pests and diseases. This is common among crop farmers around the world. Although potato production in South Africa appears to carry more risks than production elsewhere, South African commercial potato growers are economically competitive when compared to growers in other areas of the globe, with comparable planting conditions and risks. |
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Keywords: | Potatoes South Africa Pests Pathogens Climate change Abiotic risks Grower knowledge Technology transfer |
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