Odong Thomas Lapaka, Obongo Isaac, Ariong Richard, Adur Stella E, Adumo Stella A, Onen Denish Oyaro, Rwotonen Bob I, Otim Michael H
Department of Agricultural Production, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
National Crops Resources Research Institute-Namulonge, National Agricultural Research Organization, Kampala, Uganda.
Front Insect Sci. 2024 May 17;4:1345139. doi: 10.3389/finsc.2024.1345139. eCollection 2024.
(J.E. Smith), fall armyworm (), a polyphagous Noctuid pest, was first reported in Uganda in 2016. Farmers were trained to identify and manage the pest, but there was a lack of information on farmer knowledge, perceptions and practices deployed to control it. Therefore, we conducted a survey to assess maize farmers' knowledge, perceptions and management of the pest during the invasion. We interviewed 1,289 maize farmers from 10 maize-growing agro-ecological zones (AEZ) of Uganda using well-structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using R version 4.2.3. The respondents faced many constraints, including pests, drought, poor soils and labor constraints. Among the pests, was ranked by most (85%) of the respondents as the number one pest problem in maize, and some farmers reported having noticed it way back in 2014. By 2018, more than 90% of the farmers had seen or heard about , and about 80% saw in their fields. The most common symptoms reported by maize farmers were windowing, near tunnel damage, and holes on the cobs. The developmental stages of identified by farmers included eggs (10%), young larvae (78.7%), mature larvae (73.5%) and adult moths (6.7%). Insecticides were the major control tactic, although some farmers used plant extracts, hand-picking, sand, and ash. Farmers sourced information on from various sources, including fellow farmers, radio/TV, extension agents, input dealers, print media, research and NGO extension. There is a need to package clear and uniform information for the farmers and to develop and promote a sustainable solution for management, including harnessing biological control and cultural practices.
草地贪夜蛾（J.E. 史密斯）是一种多食性夜蛾科害虫，于2016年首次在乌干达被报道。农民们接受了识别和防治该害虫的培训，但缺乏关于农民防治该害虫的知识、认知和做法的信息。因此，我们开展了一项调查，以评估玉米种植区入侵期间农民对该害虫的知识、认知和管理情况。我们使用结构完善的问卷，对来自乌干达10个玉米种植农业生态区的1289名玉米种植农户进行了访谈。数据使用R 4.2.3版本进行分析。受访者面临诸多制约因素，包括虫害、干旱、土壤贫瘠和劳动力限制。在各种害虫中，大多数（85%）受访者将草地贪夜蛾列为玉米头号害虫问题，一些农民报告早在2014年就已注意到它。到2018年，超过90%的农民见过或听说过草地贪夜蛾，约80%的农民在自家农田里看到过。玉米种植农户报告的最常见的草地贪夜蛾症状有叶片成窗孔状、近隧道状损伤以及玉米穗上有洞。农民识别出的草地贪夜蛾发育阶段包括卵（10%）、幼虫（78.7%）、成熟幼虫（73.5%）和成虫（6.7%）。杀虫剂是主要的防治手段，不过一些农民使用植物提取物、手工采摘、沙子和灰烬。农民从各种渠道获取有关草地贪夜蛾的信息，包括其他农民、广播/电视、推广人员、农资经销商、印刷媒体、研究机构和非政府组织推广服务。有必要为农民提供清晰统一的信息，并制定和推广可持续的草地贪夜蛾管理解决方案，包括利用生物防治和栽培措施。
