Farmers' perceptions of sorghum production constraints and Striga control practices in semi-arid areas of Tanzania. Issue 2 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mrema, Emmanuel; Shimelis, Hussein; Laing, Mark; Bucheyeki, Tulole
• Is Part Of: International journal of pest management. Volume 63:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 146
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: Agro-ecology -- pest control -- survey -- preferences -- resistant varieties; Pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Agricultural pests -- Periodicals; Plant diseases -- Periodicals; Pesticides -- Periodicals; 632.9
• DOI: 10.1080/09670874.2016.1238115
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-0874

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The objectives of this study were to investigate constraints affecting sorghum production and farmers' approaches of Striga management in the semi-arid regions of Tanzania. Focus group discussions based on a semi-structured questionnaire and observations following transect walks were used for data collection. Only 35%, 15%, and 10% of the farmers from Igunga, Kishapu, and Meatu districts, respectively, reported growing newly released varieties. The major constraints affecting sorghum production in the study areas included Striga infestation, drought, storage pests, damage by birds, a lack of access to improved varieties, and a lack of access to production inputs, such as fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. Hand weeding, crop rotation, fallowing, intercropping, and organic manure application were the most common practices of farmers for reducing Striga infestations, but most farmers (79.7%) had little knowledge of the best recommended Striga management practices. About 65% of the farmers did not use fertilizers and herbicides for soil fertility improvement and weed management, respectively, creating favourable conditions for Striga infestation. A systematic breeding programme aiming at improving sorghum varieties for Striga resistance, including farmers' preferred traits, should be designed and implemented to increase the adoption of these new varieties by the farmers.