| dc.description.abstract | Maize is a major staple crop in many agro-ecologies in Uganda. However, productivity of the crop remains constrained by several invasive pests and diseases including the fall army worm (FAW), stem borer, and striga weed. Devising effective strategies to combat invasive pests require concerted effort including understanding farmers’ perceptions and knowledge of the pests, and traditional practices they use to control such pests. The present study sought to understand perceptions of male and female maize farmers in Kamuli District, Eastern Uganda towards FAW, stem borer and striga, and the practices they use to manage and control them. The specific objectives included: (1) to characterize male and female farmers concerning maize production and their knowledge of insect pests and striga weed, (2) to determine the perceived prevalence of insect pests and striga weed on maize plots managed by male and female farmers, (3) to identify and analyze the methods used by male and female farmers to control and manage insect pests and striga weed in their maize plots, (4) to understand the factors that influence farmers’ decisions to use the different control practices.
The study utilized a comprehensive sex disaggregated baseline survey data collected from 920 farmers operating on 7,193 plots in Kamuli District in 2019. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric techniques to understand the factors that determine farmers’ choice of control practices. Descriptive results showed that farmers had good knowledge of the pests. More female respondents correctly identified FAW (78%) and stem borer (83%) from the picture charts compared to 77% and 78% of their male counterparts respectively. Farmers reported that FAW was the most serious constraint to maize production (as reported by 92% of the respondents) followed by striga (by 75%). Perceived loss due to FAW and striga were about 38% compared to only 21% loss to stem borer, suggesting that FAW was the most important constraint to maize production in the study area.
The common practices used by farmers to control the pests are use of cultural practices (crop rotation, intercropping, manure application, frequent weeding, mechanical removal of the pest and spraying with ash/ pepper), and use of pesticides (insecticides and herbicides). A large proportion of the farmers (49%) did not apply any control strategy on their plots, 42% used only cultural practices, 4% used only pesticides while 6% used both strategies. About 22% of the plots managed
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by males received pesticides to control insect pests compared to 17% of the female managed plots and 28% of the jointly managed plots.
Results of the Multivariate probit model revealed that compared to the male plot managers, female plot managers were more likely to apply only cultural control practices whereas male plot manager were more likely to use pesticides suggesting a gender gap in the use of purchased control strategies. Both pesticides and cultural strategies were likely to be used on jointly managed plots. Other important factors that significantly influenced farmers’ decisions to use either pesticides or cultural strategies included plot distance to residence, soil fertility, if a plot suffered soil loss, distance between extension office and famers’ residence, confidence in extension information and reception of credit.
The findings of the study show good awareness of insect pests and striga, but farmers do not have effective strategies to control them. Researchers and development partners in the agriculture sector need to develop and disseminate more cost effective integrated pest management strategies to control these pests and striga. Female farmers mainly use cultural practices because they cannot afford the expensive pesticides and herbicides, implying need to extend affordable credit to farmers. Furthermore, creating awareness of the best control practices and trainings to both female and male farmers in these strategies can be important for their adoption.
Key words
Fall armyworm, stem borer, striga, gender, perceptions | en_US |
