Farmers’ Perception and Farming Practices on the Effect of Early and Late Leaf Spots on Groundnut Production in Northern Ghana

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important crop both in subsistence and commercial agriculture in Ghana. Early leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola) and late leaf spot (Phaeoisariopsis personata) are major limiting factors to groundnut productivity in Ghana. The objective of the study was to appraise farmers’ perception of the disease and effect of the cropping system on the incidence and severity of the disease. A disease-based questionnaire was administered to 100 farmers in their local language spread across 10 villages and towns selected from Tamale, Tolon-Kunbungu and Savelugu-Nanton Districts, all in the Northern Region of Ghana. The responses of the farmers showed that Cercospora leaf spot (ELS and LLS) was perceived by the farmers as one of the major constraints to groundnut production in the area to which farmers have no solution. The severity of the disease was dependent on the cropping system adopted by the farmers. The variety Chinese turned out to be the most important commercial cultivar grown by farmers but it is susceptible to both diseases. Keywords: leaf spot,  Phaeoisariopsis personata, Cercospora, groundnut, diseas

Managing Tsetse Transmitted Trypanosomosis by Insecticide Treated Nets - an Affordable and Sustainable Method for Resource Poor Pig Farmers in Ghana

An outbreak of tsetse-transmitted trypanosomiasis resulted in more than 50% losses of domestic pigs in the Eastern Region of Ghana (source: Veterinary Services, Accra; April 2007). In a control trial from May 4th–October 10th 2007, the efficacy of insecticide-treated mosquito fences to control tsetse was assessed. Two villages were selected – one serving as control with 14 pigsties and one experimental village where 24 pigsties were protected with insecticide treated mosquito fences. The 100 cm high, 150denier polyester fences with 100 mg/m2 deltamethrin and a UV protector were attached to surrounding timber poles and planks. Bi-monthly monitoring of tsetse densities with 10 geo-referenced bi-conical traps per village showed a reduction of more than 90% in the protected village within two months. Further reductions exceeding 95% were recorded during subsequent months. The tsetse population in the control village was not affected, only displaying seasonal variations. Fifty pigs from each village were ear-tagged and given a single curative treatment with diminazene aceturate (3.5 mg/kg bw) after their blood samples had been taken. The initial trypanosome prevalence amounted to 76% and 72% of protected and control animals, respectively, and decreased to 16% in protected as opposed to 84% in control pigs three months after intervention. After six months 8% of the protected pigs were infected contrasting with 60% in the control group

Trypanosome prevalence in Kwesikonfo (protected) and Zorh (control) villages before and after intervention.

a,b<p>Superscript with different letter denote significant difference at p<0.05 level.</p

Pigsty protected with insecticide-treated net in Kwesikonfo.

<p>Pigsty protected with insecticide-treated net in Kwesikonfo.</p

Catches of <i>Glossina palpalis palpalis</i> with 10 geo-referenced traps in Kwesikonfo Village (24 pigsties protected with ITN).

<p>Catch no. 1 and 2 represent the tsetse population at the start of the study, catch no. 12 after the experimental period.</p

Natural log transformation of total <i>G. p. palpalis</i> per day over 12 catches in Zorh Village (control village).

<p>Evolution of catches (no. tsetse/traps/day) in the absence of intervention. Least square regression: y = 4.7−0.025×(p = 0.62, R² = 0.026), not significant.</p

Natural log transformation of total <i>G. p. palpalis</i> per day over 12 catches in Kwesikonfo Village.

<p>Evolution of catches before (surveys 1 and 2) and after protection (no. tsetse/traps/day). Least square regression: y = 4.7−0.328×(p = 0.002, R² = 0.634), significant.</p

Emaciated trypanosome positive sow, Eastern Region, Ghana.

<p>Emaciated trypanosome positive sow, Eastern Region, Ghana.</p

Map of Kwesikonfo, Eastern Region; intervention village.

<p>Trap locations No. 1-10 (red), near pigsty locations No. 101–128 (green).</p