Assessment of Indigenous Knowledge Usedto Control Pests and to Reduce Risks of Pesticides in Wolaita and Dawuro Zones

Abstract

The research aimed at an assessment of indigenous knowledge used to control pests and the effect of using pesticides on the environment  was done in Wolaita and Dawro zones in Southern Ethiopia. From both zones a total of 7 weredas, 33 kebeles and 165 respondents were selected and ethino-biological information was collected using pre-designed semi-structured interview items, guided field work technique and participant observation.  Data was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods (of Martin, 1995 and Cotton, 1996). Among the 165 respondents, 156(94.54%0 were males. 70(42.42%) of the informants were found between 21and 40 years of age,73(44.24%0 between 41& 60 ,21(12.73%)were from 61to 80 and only 1 (0.61%)  of them were above 80. Regarding their educational status 113(68.48%) had an educational level from grade 1-12. As of the main crops are concerned, the main seed crops in the study area are wheat, barley, pea and bean are dominant in dega and weina dega agroecology and maize, teff sorghum and haricot bean are in kola. Apple and pear are dominant fruits in dega and weina dega while tomato, orange mango and banana are dominant in kola. A rodent such as mole rats are causing series problems and therefore farmers are continually developing varies strategies, a trap developed locally to control them.  Weeds such as Dodder /Cuscuta campestris  and Oxalis regnellii  can be controlled by picking/uprooting and burning, crop rotation and regular visiting/follow up (Early Weeding/Timely farming, hoeing/cultivating 3-4 times, weeding). Some plants like Persicaria senegalensis, Veronica aruensis and Pscnostachys abyssinica   are used as biological control of some insects, disease, etc  and  some of insect such as lady birds (lady bugs)-Coccinella septempunctata in Gasa chare Kebele of loma woreda, Dawuro zone are found when they are feeding on aphids ( Brericoryne brassicae),so they are serving as biological control. Most of them (95%) do not use pesticide; instead, they use indigenous knowledge that does not require any expense/financial source. The efficacy of intercropping, the combination of animal dung and urine for curing of  enset wilting disease and planting of  Pscnostachys abyssinica ‘Olomua’ in the enset crop field activities should be encouraged.

Keywords: Crops, Dawuro, Indigenous Knowledge, Pests, Wolaita