| Abstract: | Asian rice farmers commonly spray insecticides in the early stages of the crop to control leaf-feeding insects. The most common leaf feeder during this period is the leaf folder. Research shows that these sprays are usually unnecessary as the damaged crops mostly recover. It appears that farmers spray to control leaf folder because of misperceptions. We explored the use of farmer participation to change these misperceptions by inviting farmers to test a simple rule-of-thumb or 'heuristic': 'Do not spray against leaf folders for the first 30 days after transplanting (or 40 days after sowing)'. About 77% of the 101 participating farmers reported that yields of rice in their test plots were not significantly different from yields in their control plots. Before participating in the evaluation exercise, about 70% of the farmers applied their first insecticide sprays during the first 30 days after transplanting. In the first year after participation, 20% applied insecticides in the first 30 days and this was further reduced to 11% in the second year. The mean number of insecticide sprays was reduced from 3.2 to 2.0. Farmers' attitudes towards leaf-feeding insects has also changed. Before participation, farmers believed these insects cause yield loss (87%), severe damage (77%) and had to be sprayed early in the season (62%). After participation, these were reduced to 9%, 28% and 10%, respectively. Through information from research distilled into a 'high science-low tech' decision rule, farmers can readily derive a test hypothesis from it, evaluate itusing a simple experiment, learn its results and change perceptions and practices. |
