Determinants of Local Pre-Harvest Pest Management Practices in Maize Production in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract

A survey of 150 farmers randomly selected in 3 Peasant Associations (PAs) potentially producing maize was conducted to study the major pre-harvest pests of maize, local practices (LPs) used to manage such pests, farmers’ perception of effectiveness of these practices and their determinants. The study was conducted in Adami-Tulu Jedo Kombolcha District, East Showa, Ethiopia. Pre-harvest pests such as insect pests, weeds, diseases and birds were perceived to be important problems in maize production. Hence, farmers adopted a range of LPs to manage these pests. Farmers perceived that local pest management practices (LPMPs) were effective in reducing pre-harvest pest attacks in maize production.A binary logit model employed to analyze determinants of use of LPMPs showed that 7 variables for field insect, 6 for weed management were significant out of the total 12 variables included to the model. They were sex, age, education, labor in man equivalent, farm experience, awareness on the introduction of chemical pesticides in the area, income, credit access and extension contact. The result indicated that the use of LPMPs was determined by socio- economic, socio-psychological and institutional factors.

Keywords: Local practices, pest management, maize production, Ethiopia