Farmers’ knowledge, perception and management practices of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda Smith) in Manica province, Mozambique
Open Access
- 30 September 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Pensoft Publishers in NeoBiota
- Vol. 68, 127-143
- https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.68.62844
Abstract
This study aimed to gather information about farmers’ knowledge, perception and management practices of the newly introduced insect pest, the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Manica province, Mozambique. A total of 200 smallholder farmers with experience in maize cultivation were surveyed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The survey was conducted between May and August 2019 in four districts: Macate, Manica, Sussundenga and Vanduzi. Most farmers were unable to morphologically identify fall armyworm (FAW) (from 93.9% in Vanduzi to 98.0% in Manica). Most farmers have experienced FAW damage in their farms (from 92% in Macate to 98.0% in Manica). Maize is mostly planted in October and November (from 44.0% in Sussundenga to 60.0% of farmers in Manica), but the highest infestation period is believed to be between November and February. With the exception of Vanduzi where 65.3% of farmers apply insecticides, most farmers in other districts do not use any method to control FAW (from 60.8% in Macate to 88.0% in Manica and Sussundenga respectively). Among those applying insecticides, from 65.0% in Manica to 75.0% in Vanduzi have confidence in the efficiency of the insecticides being used against FAW. Most farmers reported an increase in the spread of FAW. The lack of financial resources is reported as the main constraint in the fight against FAW. This study is the first of its nature in the province of Manica and provides valuable information that may support extension services and researchers when designing FAW management options for local smallholder farmers.Keywords
Funding Information
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- A climate-adapted push-pull system effectively controls fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith), in maize in East AfricaCrop Protection, 2017
- Managing storage pests of maize: Farmers' knowledge, perceptions and practices in western KenyaCrop Protection, 2016
- First Report of Outbreaks of the Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), a New Alien Invasive Pest in West and Central AfricaPLOS ONE, 2016
- Farmers' knowledge and perception of grain legume pests and their management in the Eastern province of KenyaCrop Protection, 2016
- Smallholder farmers' knowledge, perceptions and management of pea weevil in north and north-western EthiopiaCrop Protection, 2016
- Farmers' perceptions of insect pests and pest management practices in Bt cotton in the Punjab, PakistanInternational Journal of Pest Management, 2009
- Farmers’ perceptions and management practices of insect pests on stored sorghum in southwestern EthiopiaCrop Protection, 2007
- LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF FALL ARMYWORM (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) ON DIFFERENT COVER CROP PLANTSThe Florida Entomologist, 2004
- A Survey of Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Parasitoids in the Mexican States of Michoacán, Colima, Jalisco, and TamaulipasThe Florida Entomologist, 2001
- Pest Management Strategies in Traditional Agriculture: An African PerspectiveAnnual Review of Entomology, 2000