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Integrated management of stemborers in Lesotho

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

J. Van den Berg  and
A. A. Ebenebe
J. Van den Berg
Affiliation:
ARC-Grain Crops Institute, Private Bag X1251, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
A. A. Ebenebe
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Orange, Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
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Abstract

A review is provided of the status of integrated management technologies for the stemborers Busseola fusca and Chilo partellus in Lesotho. Busseola fusca is the most important stemborer of maize and sorghum while C. partellus is only important on sorghum. No stemborer-resistant maize or sorghum varieties are available and farmers mainly plant land races of these crops. Cultural control practices such as the use of crop residue management practices have potential in suppressing borer numbers. Chilo partellus numbers, especially, can be suppressed through the destruction of sorghum crop residues. Studies indicated that adaptation of planting date can lead to escape of damage and reduced yield losses. Surveys indicate that insecticide use is on the increase in Lesotho, but the efficacy of insecticides used for borer control is not always adequate. The most promising area for change towards a pest management system lies in crop residue management. Changing crop residue management practices, especially where sorghum residues are left in the fields, should be encouraged. There is a high likelihood of adoption of a system in which Napier grass is planted around maize fields since farmers place a premium on livestock feed. Development and adoption of an integrated pest management system will, however, only be successful if farmers are involved in its development.

Résumé

Un bilan des techniques de gestion intégrée des foreurs de graminées Busseola fusca et Chilo partellus au Lesotho est présenté. Busseola fusca est le foreur le plus important du maïs alors que C. partellus est surtout important sur sorgho. Aucune variété résistante de maïs ou de sorgho n'est disponible et les fermiers plantent principalement des races locales. La lutte culturale telle que la gestion des résidus de culture offre un potentiel intéressant pour contrôler les effectifs de foreurs. Ainsi, les effectifs de C. partellus peuvent être contrôlés par la destruction des résidus de culture du sorgho. Des études ont montré qu'un aménagement des dates de semis peut limiter les dégâts et réduire les pertes de récolte. Des enquêtes indiquent que l'utilisation d'insecticide s'accroît au Lesotho, mais que l'efficacité des traitements n'est pas toujours suffisante. La gestion des résidus de culture s'avère être le domaine le plus prometteur pour gérer les ravageurs. On devrait favoriser les pratiques de gestion de résidus, en particulier lorsque les résidus de sorgho sont laissés au champ. Un système de culture où l'herbe à éléphants est plantée autour des parcelles de maïs sera très vraisemblablement adopté dans la mesure où les fermiers accordent beaucoup d'importance à la nourriture du bétail. Le développement et l'adoption d'un système de gestion intégré des ravageurs ne seront cependant couronnés de succès que si les fermiers sont impliqués dans leurs réalisations.

Keywords

Busseola fuscaChilo partellusintegrated managementcrop residue managementLesothoBusseola fuscaChilo partellusgestion intégréegestion des résidus de cultureLesotho
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , December 2001 , pp. 389 - 394
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2001

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