Influence Of Farmer Production Goals On Cowpea Pest Management In Eastern Uganda: Implications For Developing IPM Programmes

We investigated using a case study the influence of differing production goals on cowpea production and pest management practices. The cases (farmers) were characterised as commercial, dual purpose and subsistence depending on the primary goal of production. Production goal influenced cowpea acreage, varietal choice, seasonal planting, perception of problematic pests, and stage and frequency of pesticide application. Farmers preferred to use pesticides, as the primary method of pest control, because they insured a marketable crop, were associated with yield increases, permitted two season cropping, and reduced demand for labour at labour peaks during the cropping season. Pesticides were used by the majority of farmers in the area. The only limitations to pesticide use were local availability and cost. Besides the use of pesticides farmers had local knowledge on alternative methods for controlling pests such as early planting, variety choice, weeding, leaf picking and intercropping. Generally, farmers were unknowledgeable (or uniformed) about cowpea diseases. Future research should seek to introduce resistant varieties; investigate efficacy, timing and rate of pesticide application; and, educate farmers regarding proper pesticide use and safety.Nous avons examin\ue9 en utilisant une \ue9tude de cas, l\u2019influence des diff\ue9rents objectifs de production du ni\ue9b\ue9 et les pratiques de gestion des pestes. Les cas (agriculteurs) \ue9taient caract\ue9ris\ue9s comme commerciaux, double objectifs et subsistance d\ue9pendant de l\u2019objectif primaire de production. L\u2019objectif de production influen\ue7ait la superficie emblav\ue9e par le ni\ue9b\ue9, le choix vari\ue9tal, la plantation saisonni\ue8re, la perception du probl\ue9matique des pestes, le stade et la fr\ue9quence d\u2019application des pesticides. Les agriculteurs pr\ue9f\ue9rraient l\u2019utilisation des pesticides comme m\ue9thodes primaires de gestion de pestes parce qu\u2019ils assurent une culture commercialisable, \ue9taient assoc\ue9es \ue0 l\u2019augmentation des rendements, permettent deux saisons culturales, et r\ue9duisent la main d\u2019oeuvre aux p\ue9riodes de pointe des travaux durant la saison culturale. Les pesticides \ue9taient utilis\ue9s par la majorit\ue9 des agriculteurs dans la r\ue9gion. Les seules limitations d\u2019usage des pesticides \ue9taient la disponibilit\ue9 locale et le co\ue9t. En plus de l\u2019utilisation des pesticides les agriculteurs avaient une connaissance locale sur les m\ue9thodes alternatives de contr\uf4le des pestes telles que la plantation pr\ue9coce, le choix vari\ue9tal, le sarclage, le ramassage de feuille et l\u2019association des cultures. G\ue9n\ue9rallement les agriculteurs n\u2019\ue9taient pas au courant des maladies du ni\ue9b\ue9. La recherche future devra chercher \ue0 introduire des vari\ue9t\ue9s r\ue9sistantes, \ue9tudier l\u2019efficacit\ue9, le temps et le taux d\u2019application des pesticides, et \ue9duquer les agriculteurs sur l\u2019utilisation propre et la s\ue9curit\ue9 de pesticides