摘要
Insect pests are among the most important constraints limiting sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) production in Africa. However, there is inadequate information about farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and practices in the management of key insect pests. This has hindered development of effective pest management approaches for smallholder farmers. A standard questionnaire was used to interview individual sweetpotato farmers (n = 192) about their perception and management practices regarding insect pests in six major sweetpotato producing districts of Uganda. The majority (93%) of farmers perceived insect pests to be a very serious problem. With the exception of Masindi and Wakiso districts where the sweetpotato butterfly (Acraea acerata) was the number one constraint, sweetpotato weevils (Cylas puncticollis and C. brunneus) were ranked as the most important insect pests. Insecticide use in sweetpotato fields was very low being highest (28–38% of households) in districts where A. acerata infestation is the biggest problem. On average, 65% and 87% of the farmers took no action to control A. acerata and Cylas spp., respectively. Farmers were more conversant with the presence of and damage by A. acerata than of Cylas spp. as they thought that Cylas spp. root damage was brought about by a prolonged dry season. Different levels of field resistance (ability of a variety to tolerate damage) of sweetpotato landraces to A. acerata (eight landraces) and Cylas spp. (six landraces) were reported by farmers in all the six districts. This perceived level of resistance to insect damage by landraces needs to be investigated. To improve farmers’ capabilities for sweetpotato insect pest management, it is crucial to train them in the basic knowledge of insect pest biology and control. KeywordsSweetpotato butterfly Acraea acerata African sweetpotato weevils Cylas puncticollis Cylas brunneus Production constraints Ipomoea batatas Integrated pest management
摘要译文
虫害是限制在甘薯AfricaHowever（甘薯）的生产中最重要的限制因素，有关于农民鈥知识不足的信息，有效的害虫管理的观念和做法的关键昆虫pestsThis的管理已经阻碍了发展小农方法estionnaire用于个别采访甘薯的农民（N鈥鈥）关于关于在乌干达的六大产甘薯区害虫他们的看法和管理实践农民的大部分（93％25）认为害虫是一个很严重的问题随着马辛迪和瓦基索区，其中甘薯蝴蝶（Acraea acerata）是头号约束，甘薯象鼻虫（甘薯小象puncticollis和C除外褐）分别排在甘薯领域中最重要的昆虫pestsInsecticide使用在区，其中A是非常低的最高（户28鈥25）acerata为患是最大的problemOn平均水平，65％，25和87％的农户25没有采取任何行动来分别控制Aacerata和甘薯小象属农民用的存在和伤害Aacerata更精通比甘薯小象sppas他们认为，甘薯小象spproot损害是长期干燥的季节带来不同层次的田间抗性的甘薯地方品种来Aacerata（8地方品种）和甘薯小象属（容忍损害的各种能力）需要（SIX地方品种）通过由地方品种耐认知水平的虫害所有六个districtsThis农民报告可查为了提高农民鈥为甘薯虫害管理能力，关键是要培养他们在害虫生物学和控制的基本知识KeywordsSweetpotato蝴蝶Acraea acerata非洲象甲甘薯甘薯小象puncticollis甘薯小象生产褐制约甘薯病虫害综合治理
Joshua Sikhu Okonya [1] Robert OM Mwanga [2] Katja Syndikus [3] Jürgen Kroschel [4]. Insect pests of sweetpotato in Uganda: farmers’ perceptions of their importance and control practices[J]. SpringerPlus, 2014,3(1)