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Farmers' Perceptions of Importance, Control Methods and Natural Enemies of Maize Stemborers at the Kenya Coast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

M. J. Bonhof ,
A. van Huis ,
F. G. Kiros  and
N. Dibogo
M. J. Bonhof
Affiliation:
Wageningen University, Laboratory of Entomology, P.O. Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (IC1PE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
A. van Huis
Affiliation:
Wageningen University, Laboratory of Entomology, P.O. Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands
F. G. Kiros
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (IC1PE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
N. Dibogo
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (IC1PE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

A survey among 240 resource-poor farmers at the Kenya coast indicated that insect pests were considered to be the main production constraint. Over 70% of respondents mentioned stemborers to be the most important insect pest. Unlike the eggs and adults, stemborer larvae and pupae were frequently seen by farmers. Alternative gramineous host plants for pests were common near maize fields and were often not destroyed until after the first rains. Nearly all farmers left dry stems and stubble in the field after harvest. Farmers knew of many methods for controlling stemborers, but only 32 and 56% of farmers in Kilifi and Kwale Districts, respectively, used any of the methods. Chemical control was the most popular control method, being applied regularly by 19 and 38% of farmers in Kilifi and Kwale Districts, respectively. Traditional methods and cultural control methods were seldom used. Approximately 50% of farmers had heard of beneficial insects, with farmers collectively mentioning 17 predators of stemborers. Cocoons of the parasitoids Cotesia flavipes, released in a biological control programme in the study area in 1993, and the indigenous Cotesia sesamiae had been seen by 33% of respondents, but none knew what these were. The results of the present study stress the need to educate farmers about the biology and ecology of stemborers and the role of natural enemies. Also, after effective control methods suitable for resource-poor farmers have been identified, both groups should be trained in pest management methods, for example through the Farmers Field School approach.

Résumé

Une enquête couvrant 240 fermiers de la côte du Kenya a montré que les insectes ravageurs sont considérés comme les principaux facteurs limitants la production. Plus de 79% des personnes intérrogées ont cité les foreurs de tiges comme les insectes ravageurs les plus importants. Les fermiers ont fréquemment observé les larves et les pupes des foreurs de tiges et très peu les oeufs et les adults. D'autres graminés, plantes hôtes secondaires des foreurs de tiges, ont souvent été observées près des champs de maïs, et ces plantes n'étaient détruites qu'après les premières pluies. Presque tous les fermiers ont laissé des tiges séchées et des chaumes dans leurs champs après les récoltes. Les fermiers connaissaient plusieurs méthodes de lutte, toutefois, 32 et 56% seulement de fermiers dans les districts de Kilifi et Kwale, respectivement, ont utilisé l'une de ces méthodes. La lutte chimique était la plus fréquement utilisée. Elle était pratiquée régulièrement par 19 et 38% des fermiers des districts de Kilifi et de Kwale, respectivement. Les méthodes de luttes traditionelles et cuturales étaient très peu utilisées. Une cinquantaine de fermiers ont entendu parlé d'insectes bénéfiques. Les fermiers ont cité 17 prédateurs des foreurs de tiges. Les cocons du parasitoid, Cotesia flavipes qui a été lâché dans la région en 1993 lors d'un programme de lutte biologique, et ceux du parasitoid local, Cotesia sesamiae ont déjà été observés par 33% des fermiers mais aucun ne savait ce que c'était. Les résultats de cette étude souligne le besoin d'éduquer les paysans sur la biologie et l'écologie des foreurs de tiges ainsi que sur le rôle de leurs ennemis naturels. Aussi, lorsque des méthodes de luttes efficaces adaptées aux fermiers aux revenus faibles, sont identifiées, les paysans devraient être formés. Cette formation pourrait ce faire à travers “les écoles de fermiers”.

Keywords

farmers' perceptionsindigenous knowledgemaizestemborerscontrol methodsnatural enemiesKenyaperceptions des fermiersconnaissances traditionellesmaïsforeurs de tigemethodes de lutteennemis naturelsKenya
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , March 2001 , pp. 33 - 42
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2001

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