Chepchirchir Fridah, Muriithi Beatrice Wambui, Langat Jackson, Ndlela Shepard, Mohamed Samira Abuelgasim, Khamis Fathiya
Department of Agricultural and Agribusiness Management, Egerton University, P.O Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya.
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
J Econ Entomol. 2023 Oct 10;116(5):1529-1539. doi: 10.1093/jee/toad163.
The negative effects of pest infestation on agricultural production cannot be underestimated. There have been several efforts to control these pests, chiefly through the use of synthetic pesticides. However, the continuous use of the chemicals causes pest resistance and resurgence and presents high human and environmental risks. This study examines the economic, health, and environmental impacts of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick 1917), an economically important pest in tomato production, among smallholder farmers in selected counties in Kenya and Uganda. Economic Impact Quotient and gross margin analysis were used on data obtained from a random sample of 316 and 345 tomato growers in Kenya and Uganda, respectively. The results show a significant impact of T. absoluta on tomato production in both countries. On average, the tomato growers earned a gross income of $38,123 and $11,627 in Kenya and Uganda, respectively, with synthetic chemicals for the management of T. absoluta contributing 66-78% of the cost of production. The opportunity cost lost due to forgoing pesticide for management of the pest, and instead replacing it with an integrated pest management package was valued between $8 and $646 in Kenya and $895 in Uganda, respectively, using net present value through the most pessimistic scenario, while benefit-cost ratio was $1 and $5 in Kenya and Uganda, respectively.
害虫侵袭对农业生产的负面影响不容小觑。人们已采取多种措施来控制这些害虫，主要是通过使用合成农药。然而，持续使用这些化学物质会导致害虫产生抗药性和再度猖獗，并带来很高的人类健康和环境风险。本研究考察了番茄潜麦蛾（Tuta absoluta，1917年，梅里克定名）对肯尼亚和乌干达部分县小农户番茄生产的经济、健康和环境影响。对分别从肯尼亚和乌干达随机抽取的316名和345名番茄种植户获取的数据，采用了经济影响系数和毛利润分析方法。结果表明，番茄潜麦蛾对两国的番茄生产均有显著影响。肯尼亚和乌干达的番茄种植户平均毛收入分别为38,123美元和11,627美元，用于防治番茄潜麦蛾的合成化学药剂占生产成本的66%至78%。在最悲观的情况下，采用净现值计算，肯尼亚因放弃使用农药防治该害虫转而采用综合害虫管理方案而损失的机会成本在8美元至646美元之间，乌干达为895美元，而肯尼亚和乌干达的效益成本比分别为1和5。
