Farmers’ perceptions on the effectiveness of push pull technology to control maize stem borer (Chilo Partellus) in Gatsibo District of Rwanda
This case study investigated the perceptions of farmers and the historical effectiveness of push-pull technology to control the maize stem borer (Chilo Partellus) in Nyagihanga sector of Gatsibo District (Rwanda). The investigation was done in collaboration with Food for the Hungry/Rwanda, an org...
| Autor principal: | |
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| Formato: | H2 |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
SLU/Dept. of Biosystems and Technology (from 130101)
2019
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| Materias: |
| _version_ | 1855572543889473536 |
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| author | Nezehose, Marthe |
| author_browse | Nezehose, Marthe |
| author_facet | Nezehose, Marthe |
| author_sort | Nezehose, Marthe |
| collection | Epsilon Archive for Student Projects |
| description | This case study investigated the perceptions of farmers and the historical effectiveness of
push-pull technology to control the maize stem borer (Chilo Partellus) in Nyagihanga
sector of Gatsibo District (Rwanda). The investigation was done in collaboration with Food
for the Hungry/Rwanda, an organization operating in the mentioned region. Historical data
from the region show that the push pull technology can significantly increase maize yield
while decreasing damages by the maize stem borer. The agronomist and livelihood officer at
Food for the Hungry/Rwanda and 27 farmers participated in the study. Semi-structured
interviews were conducted in February 2019. The material was analyzed using a framework
(thematic) analysis of farmers ‘narratives about the push pull technology. Maize harvest
during three consecutive growing seasons (2016A, 2017A and 2018A) showed a remarkable
and continuous increase of yield in push pull plots, in comparison with a maize monoculture.
Farmers appreciated the technology, mentioning a range of benefits during the interviews but
they stressed the challenging side of it. The most-mentioned benefits of the method were
stem borer control, maize yield increase and fodder for animals. On the other hand, the mostmentioned
limitations were the increase of labor cost (for the very first installation), the
necessity of a new crop rotation and the difficulty to access high quality desmodium seeds.
The results of the study show that push pull technology is beneficial, as many other previous
researchers have proven, especially for maize stem borer control. Nevertheless, the working
environment, consisting of the agriculture policy and regulations, the food needs and the
income state of smallholders, and many other external factors can have a detrimental impact
on it as a farming system. Because the current agricultural policy is not actively supporting
the adoption of the push pull technology, the development of a strong collaboration between
all the stakeholders is essential to establish a strong maize production system. |
| format | H2 |
| id | RepoSLU15227 |
| institution | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publishDateSort | 2019 |
| publisher | SLU/Dept. of Biosystems and Technology (from 130101) |
| publisherStr | SLU/Dept. of Biosystems and Technology (from 130101) |
| record_format | eprints |
| spelling | RepoSLU152272020-05-29T13:15:29Z Farmers’ perceptions on the effectiveness of push pull technology to control maize stem borer (Chilo Partellus) in Gatsibo District of Rwanda Jordbrukarnas uppfattningar om effektiviteten hos push pullteknik för att kontrollera majsstamborare (Chilo Partellus) i Gatsibo distriktet Rwanda Nezehose, Marthe push pull technology stem borer desmodium Napier grass ecological interactions This case study investigated the perceptions of farmers and the historical effectiveness of push-pull technology to control the maize stem borer (Chilo Partellus) in Nyagihanga sector of Gatsibo District (Rwanda). The investigation was done in collaboration with Food for the Hungry/Rwanda, an organization operating in the mentioned region. Historical data from the region show that the push pull technology can significantly increase maize yield while decreasing damages by the maize stem borer. The agronomist and livelihood officer at Food for the Hungry/Rwanda and 27 farmers participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in February 2019. The material was analyzed using a framework (thematic) analysis of farmers ‘narratives about the push pull technology. Maize harvest during three consecutive growing seasons (2016A, 2017A and 2018A) showed a remarkable and continuous increase of yield in push pull plots, in comparison with a maize monoculture. Farmers appreciated the technology, mentioning a range of benefits during the interviews but they stressed the challenging side of it. The most-mentioned benefits of the method were stem borer control, maize yield increase and fodder for animals. On the other hand, the mostmentioned limitations were the increase of labor cost (for the very first installation), the necessity of a new crop rotation and the difficulty to access high quality desmodium seeds. The results of the study show that push pull technology is beneficial, as many other previous researchers have proven, especially for maize stem borer control. Nevertheless, the working environment, consisting of the agriculture policy and regulations, the food needs and the income state of smallholders, and many other external factors can have a detrimental impact on it as a farming system. Because the current agricultural policy is not actively supporting the adoption of the push pull technology, the development of a strong collaboration between all the stakeholders is essential to establish a strong maize production system. SLU/Dept. of Biosystems and Technology (from 130101) 2019 H2 eng https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/15227/ |
| spellingShingle | push pull technology stem borer desmodium Napier grass ecological interactions Nezehose, Marthe Farmers’ perceptions on the effectiveness of push pull technology to control maize stem borer (Chilo Partellus) in Gatsibo District of Rwanda |
| title | Farmers’ perceptions on the effectiveness of push pull technology to control maize stem borer (Chilo Partellus) in Gatsibo District of Rwanda |
| title_full | Farmers’ perceptions on the effectiveness of push pull technology to control maize stem borer (Chilo Partellus) in Gatsibo District of Rwanda |
| title_fullStr | Farmers’ perceptions on the effectiveness of push pull technology to control maize stem borer (Chilo Partellus) in Gatsibo District of Rwanda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Farmers’ perceptions on the effectiveness of push pull technology to control maize stem borer (Chilo Partellus) in Gatsibo District of Rwanda |
| title_short | Farmers’ perceptions on the effectiveness of push pull technology to control maize stem borer (Chilo Partellus) in Gatsibo District of Rwanda |
| title_sort | farmers’ perceptions on the effectiveness of push pull technology to control maize stem borer (chilo partellus) in gatsibo district of rwanda |
| topic | push pull technology stem borer desmodium Napier grass ecological interactions |