Elaboration of an integrated pest management manual for some major cash crops in Malawi.

Pests damage to crop production is one of the major challenges faced by farmers in Malawi. Smallholder subsistence farmers have little or no training on the management and pest control strategies and how to effectively apply them. There is a risk of pesticide poisoning due to the lack of proper pesticide handling and not using personal protective equipment. This study aims at addressing the aforementioned problems through a field survey with some of the country’s farmers. The survey was conducted in the central and southern regions of Malawi with 44 farmers for each cash crop. The results indicated that in maize, to control Spodoptera furgiperda, 33 % of the farmers used cultural methods, 1 % used biological control methods, 31 % used chemical methods of control while 33 % used a combination of cultural and chemical control methods and 2 % using a combination of all methods. To control Sitophilus zeamais, 30 % used cultural methods, 29 % used chemical methods of control, 6 % used biological control methods, while 30 % used a combination of cultural and chemical control methods and 5 % using a combination of all methods. To control Busseola fusca 34 % used cultural methods, 32 % used chemical methods of control, 1 % used biological control methods while 33 % used a combination of cultural and chemical control methods. In beans the results showed that with Callosobruchus maculatus, 34 % used cultural methods, 32 % used chemical methods, 1 % used biological control methods, while 33 % used a combination of cultural and chemical control methods. To control Aphis fabae 32 % used cultural methods, 38 % used chemical methods, while 30 % used a combination of cultural and chemical control methods. To control Spodoptera litura 34 % used cultural methods, 40 % used chemical methods, 26 % used a combination of cultural and chemical control methods. In sugarcane, to control Sipha flava, Odontotermes assmuthi, and Oligonychus indicusis, 95 % use chemical control methods. 2 % use cultural control methods while 3 % use a combination of cultural and chemical methods. In tobacco, farmers face challenges with Heliothis virescens, Manduca sexta and Conoderus vespertinus. All farmers surveyed use chemical control. A survey on the use of personal protective equipment showed that 14 % do not use any, 48 % use incomplete personal protective equipment and 38 % use complete personal protective equipment. The information gathered was then used as a basis for the elaboration of a pest control handbook which will serve as a guide for the farmers to control the above-mentioned pests.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Munthali, Esnai Cleanwell, Kalua, Sandra
Other Authors:	Walter, Ndonkeu Tita
Format:	info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	Universidad EARTH 2020-12
Subjects:	CONTROL DE PLAGAS, MANUALES, MALAWI, https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#4.01.07,
Online Access:	https://repositorio.earth.ac.cr/handle/UEARTH/167
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