Farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and control practices of fall armyworm

Field survey

Valeur des bois-énergie, bois d’œuvre et de service dans les zones de mangroves des sites Ramsar 1017 et 1018 au Bénin

This study aims to determine the value of wood and the share of household income allocated to wood consumption expenses in the mangrove areas of RAMSAR sites 1017 and 1018 in Benin, with a view to better planning reforestation programs in the peripheral areas of RAMSAR sites and reducing pressure on natural forests. Surveys were carried out among 1,060 stakeholders from various trades involved in wood processing (heads of households, housewives, food vendors, firewood collectors and retailers, charcoal manufacturers and retailers, loggers, carpenters and sawyers) in the mangrove areas of the two sites. The results showed that a household spends an average 18 446 Fcfa/year on timber consumption, 8 311 Fcfa/year on service wood, 110 230 Fcfa/year on firewood and 30 295 Fcfa/year on charcoal at RAMSAR site 1017. At site 1018, average expenditure per household is 33,938 CFA francs per year for timber, 17,700 CFA francs per year for service wood, 94,535 CFA francs per year for firewood and 24,090 CFA francs per year for charcoal. The study suggests developing a policy of planting the species used for wood and promoting less costly sources of energy for households

Farmers’ Knowledge and Management Practices of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in Benin, West Africa

Spodoptera frugiperda has caused significant losses of farmer income in sub-Saharan countries since 2016. This study assessed farmers’ knowledge of S. frugiperda, their perceptions and management practices in Benin. Data were collected through a national survey of 1237 maize farmers. Ninety-one point eight percent of farmers recognized S. frugiperda damage, 78.9% of them were able to identify its larvae, and 93.9% of the maize fields were infested. According to farmers, the perceived yield losses amounted to 797.2 kg/ha of maize, representing 49% of the average maize yield commonly obtained by farmers. Chi-square tests revealed that the severity of the pest attacks was significantly associated with cropping practices and types of grown maize varieties. About 16% of farmers identified francolin (Francolinus bicalcaratus), village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus), and common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) as natural enemies and 5% of them identified yellow nutsedge, chan, shea tree, neem, tamarind, and soybean as repellent plants of S. frugiperda. Most farmers (91.4%) used synthetic pesticides and 1.9% of them used botanical pesticides, which they found more effective than synthetic pesticides. Significant relationships exist between farmers’ management practices, their knowledge, organization membership, and contact with research and extension services. More research is required to further understand the effectiveness of botanical pesticides made by farmers against S. frugiperda and to refine them for scaling-up