Farmers’ knowledge, experience and management of fall armyworm in a major maize producing municipality in Ghana
AbstractSince its discovery in Ghana, the fall armyworm (FAW) has damaged maize farms resulting in yield losses. This study investigated farmers’ knowledge, practices and impact of the pest in a major maize growing municipality in Ghana. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Food & Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2023.2184006 |
| _version_ | 1797435601721491456 |
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| author | Akua Safo Silas Wintuma Avicor Philip Kweku Baidoo Patrick Addo-Fordjour Michael Kojo Ainooson Michael Osae Sylvia Esther Gyan Jerry Asalma Nboyine |
| author_facet | Akua Safo Silas Wintuma Avicor Philip Kweku Baidoo Patrick Addo-Fordjour Michael Kojo Ainooson Michael Osae Sylvia Esther Gyan Jerry Asalma Nboyine |
| author_sort | Akua Safo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AbstractSince its discovery in Ghana, the fall armyworm (FAW) has damaged maize farms resulting in yield losses. This study investigated farmers’ knowledge, practices and impact of the pest in a major maize growing municipality in Ghana. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from 200 randomly sampled farmers on their knowledge, practices, perceived effect and management of the FAW. FAW susceptibility to insecticides was also assessed. Although insecticide application was dominant (98%) and farmers experienced adverse health effects, application frequency and the resulting effects were not significantly related (p > 0.05). Usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) was low (45.7%) and only 2% of the farmers used complete PPE. Gender correlated positively with PPE usage with more females wearing PPE compared to males. Age, farming experience, education and farm size did not significantly impact on PPE usage. The FAW outbreak negatively affected farmers’ relationships (36.5%) and caused economic loss to many farmers (80%). FAW was susceptible to emamectin benzoate (1.9% w/v) and emamectin benzoate (48 g/L) + acetamiprid (64 g/L) but not Bacillus thuringiensis (55%) + monosultap (45%) under laboratory conditions. The findings and implications of the study on farmer safety and sustainable pest management are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:49:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-81d22c6998ee4012adbe79d246e47a46 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2331-1932 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:49:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Food & Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-81d22c6998ee4012adbe79d246e47a462023-12-01T08:31:55ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Food & Agriculture2331-19322023-12-019110.1080/23311932.2023.2184006Farmers’ knowledge, experience and management of fall armyworm in a major maize producing municipality in GhanaAkua Safo0Silas Wintuma Avicor1Philip Kweku Baidoo2Patrick Addo-Fordjour3Michael Kojo Ainooson4Michael Osae5Sylvia Esther Gyan6Jerry Asalma Nboyine7Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaEntomology Division, Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, New Tafo-Akim, GhanaDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, GhanaBiotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, College of Humanities, University of Ghana, Legon, GhanaCSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Tamale, GhanaAbstractSince its discovery in Ghana, the fall armyworm (FAW) has damaged maize farms resulting in yield losses. This study investigated farmers’ knowledge, practices and impact of the pest in a major maize growing municipality in Ghana. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from 200 randomly sampled farmers on their knowledge, practices, perceived effect and management of the FAW. FAW susceptibility to insecticides was also assessed. Although insecticide application was dominant (98%) and farmers experienced adverse health effects, application frequency and the resulting effects were not significantly related (p > 0.05). Usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) was low (45.7%) and only 2% of the farmers used complete PPE. Gender correlated positively with PPE usage with more females wearing PPE compared to males. Age, farming experience, education and farm size did not significantly impact on PPE usage. The FAW outbreak negatively affected farmers’ relationships (36.5%) and caused economic loss to many farmers (80%). FAW was susceptible to emamectin benzoate (1.9% w/v) and emamectin benzoate (48 g/L) + acetamiprid (64 g/L) but not Bacillus thuringiensis (55%) + monosultap (45%) under laboratory conditions. The findings and implications of the study on farmer safety and sustainable pest management are discussed.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2023.2184006fall armyworminsecticide applicationmaize farmerspersonal protective equipmentGhana |
| spellingShingle | Akua Safo Silas Wintuma Avicor Philip Kweku Baidoo Patrick Addo-Fordjour Michael Kojo Ainooson Michael Osae Sylvia Esther Gyan Jerry Asalma Nboyine Farmers’ knowledge, experience and management of fall armyworm in a major maize producing municipality in Ghana Cogent Food & Agriculture fall armyworm insecticide application maize farmers personal protective equipment Ghana |
| title | Farmers’ knowledge, experience and management of fall armyworm in a major maize producing municipality in Ghana |
| title_full | Farmers’ knowledge, experience and management of fall armyworm in a major maize producing municipality in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Farmers’ knowledge, experience and management of fall armyworm in a major maize producing municipality in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Farmers’ knowledge, experience and management of fall armyworm in a major maize producing municipality in Ghana |
| title_short | Farmers’ knowledge, experience and management of fall armyworm in a major maize producing municipality in Ghana |
| title_sort | farmers knowledge experience and management of fall armyworm in a major maize producing municipality in ghana |
| topic | fall armyworm insecticide application maize farmers personal protective equipment Ghana |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2023.2184006 |
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