Assessing factors influencing adoption of integrated pest management techniques of mango fruit fly in Bamunanika Sub-county in Luwero district, Uganda

Abstract

This research on factors affecting adoption of integrated pest management techniques in the rural sub county of Bamunanika in Uganda seeks to understand the reasons why mango farmers in this area have failed to embrace and actively practice the IPM techniques disseminated to them. The National Agricultural Research Laboratories under the National Agricultural Research Organization found out that fruit fly infestation levels in Luwero were still high compared to Iganga and Kasese. Heavy mango fruit drop and economic losses escalated amongst mango farmers even after tested and proven IPM packages were given to them. This research further examines fruit fly management techniques farmers want and also understand the indigenous management techniques they are currently using on their mango plantations apart from the once recommended and extended to them by NARO. A questionnaire survey was conducted in Kiteme village in Kibirizi parish and Kiwebya Mulungu village and Kasolo Budu village in Kiteme parish, Bamunanika subcounty in Luwero district to determine the underlying causes of limited adoption of recommended IPM techniques, farmer awareness of IPM techniques, the methods currently used by farmers and challenges they are faced with. Key factors for adoption of IPM techniques were 1) The cost of inputs 2 Access to knowledge or training 3) Labor demands of the technique and 4) Accessibility to the technology or inputs. Ideally, mango famer adoption of fruit fly IPM techniques is meant to lower the use of pesticides in mango fruit production, increase yields, save money on pesticides and reduce farmer exposure to chemicals while lowering incidences of pests. The majority of the farmers were not aware of the mango fruit fly IPM techniques and the major control methods used by farmers include spraying, trapping of the flies and ensuring good orchard sanitation. Key among the challenges experienced by farmers in using NARO recommended IPM techniques include expensive input, lack of knowledge on IPM techniques, labor intensive, difficulty in getting traps and even if traps are got, most of them are ineffective or damaged. The campaign for fruit fly IPM techniques awareness was not satisfactory enough because it did not reach many mango farmers. A few who were aware got information from NARO which always operates in smaller identified project implementation areas rather than offering traditional iv

continuous extension service. Farmers are still preferring the conventional spraying of mango trees using pesticides with limited use of NARO recommended IPM techniques sitting challenges of costly inputs like bagging materials and traps, labour intensive methods, inaccessible traps, ineffective traps and lack of knowledge or training. Following farmers’ listed challenges in use of IPM methods, there is need for a concerted effort on farmer training, sensitization and enhancement of extension services to mango farmers for to archive a sustainable area wide pest management for better harvests and enhanced livelihoods.