Farmers' knowledge and perceptions of cotton insect pests and their control practices in Ghana

A survey of 337 cotton farmers in the three northern regions of Ghana was conducted between November 2002 and March 2003 with the objectives of assessing farmers' knowledge and perceptions of cotton insect pests and examining their control practices. The survey revealed that between 69 and 86% of the farmers were illiterate. Farmers' age average 42 years and had an average of 9 years of cotton farming experience. Farmers were familiar with cotton insect pests, especially those whose feeding caused obvious symptoms in the field such as bollworms, leafrollers and cotton stainers. Farmers relied on chemical insecticides supplied by their contract cotton companies to control insect pests on their fields. Insecticides from three classes namely organochlorines (e.g. endosulfan), pyrethroids (e.g. Lambda-cyhalothrin), organophosphates (e.g. Chlorpyrifos) or their mixtures were used. An average of five applications were made during the season. Farmers indicated that the control practice was largely ineffective against the pests, and attributed the cause to the use of expired and inadequate quantities of chemicals. The study showed that only 28% of the respondents had some knowledge of alternative pest control measures. It is important to improve farmers' knowledge and management skills of cotton insect pests through participatory research and training in integrated pest management (IPM). IPM training through farmer field schools will help farmers to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to improve their management of insect pests on their fields. Keywords: cotton, farmer knowledge and perception, insect pest control, Ghana Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 26(1) 2006: 39-4

Factors affecting the adoption of botanical extracts as pesticides in cowpea production in northern Ghana

Cowpea is an important crop among the farm households of northern Ghana. It provides a cheap source of plant protein and bridges a hunger gap that is known to exist between the time when most crops are planted and the time when major crops are harvested. However, the cultivation of cowpea is constrained by several factors, with pests and diseases being the most serious constraints. Some technologies have been transferred to farmers over the years to enable them cope with these production constraints. The use of synthetic pesticides in pest control raises concern for human health and environment safety. However, a long history of use of botanical extracts and herbs in African cultures is available for protecting crops and stored products, as well as for medicinal and veterinary purposes. In recent decades, the use of botanical extracts in pest control has received a lot of emphasis in research and development. This paper examined the factors influencing the adoption of botanical extracts as pesticides in cowpea production. Analysis of farm data showed that the socio-economic characteristics provided a more satisfactory explanation of the adoption pattern. Three principal but interrelated factors were of particular importance: the level of education of the household head and the size of one’s farm and access to labour were relatively important in influencing decision to adopt; besides, high labour requirement by farmers for preparing and applying the botanical extracts make the technology less attractive to farmers with larger farm sizes. Therefore, the results suggest that increased adoption of the technology can be fostered by targeting education toward farmers who have had some formal education, and with smaller farm sizes. Industrial production of botanical extracts, to reduce the drudgery of its production and use by individual farmers, could speed up adoption

An assessment of the risk of Bt-cowpea to non-target organisms in West Africa

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.) is the most economically important legume crop in arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Cowpea is grown primarily by subsistence farmers who consume the leaves, pods and grain on farm or sell grain in local markets. Processed cowpea foods such as akara (a deep-fat fried fritter) are popular in the rapidly expanding urban areas. Demand far exceeds production due, in part, to a variety of insect pests including, in particular, the lepidopteran legume pod borer (LPB) Maruca vitrata. Genetically engineered Bt-cowpea, based on cry1Ab (Event 709) and cry2Ab transgenes, is being developed for use in sub-Saharan Africa to address losses from the LBP. Before environmental release of transgenic cowpeas, the Bt Cry proteins they express need to be assessed for potential effects on non-target organisms, particularly arthropods. Presented here is an assessment of the potential effects of those Cry proteins expressed in cowpea for control of LPB. Based on the history of safe use of Bt proteins, as well as the fauna associated with cultivated and wild cowpea in sub-Saharan Africa results indicate negligible effects on non-target organisms