Farmers’ Knowledge and Management Practices Regarding Disease and Insect Pest of Potato at Chautara Sangachokgadhi Municipality, Sindhupalchok District, Nepal

A study was conducted in three wards of Chautara Sangachokgadhi Municipality, Sindhupalchok district, aimed to assess farmers' knowledge of potato diseases and their management practices.A total of 105 randomly selected farmers participated in the study.Late Blight emerged as the predominant potato disease, while potato scab was identified as the least common.Although a substantial number of farmers were aware of Late Blight, knowledge of potato scab was limited.Chemical control methods were widely employed, with cultural and biological methods also utilized, but integrated disease management (IDM) practices were notably underutilized.The study identified five prevalent insect pests in potatoes, with the tuber moth being the most severe and Jassid the least severe.Despite the predominance of chemical control, the integration of physical, cultural, biological, and chemical methods was infrequently adopted.Furthermore, the majority of farmers demonstrated limited awareness of integrated pest management (IPM).Demographically, the majority of farmers identified as Hindu and engaged in agriculture as their primary occupation.Brahmin/Chhetri and Janajati communities were prevalent.The study revealed that the knowledge categorization was higher at a medium level, indicating the need for targeted training and awareness programs to enhance farmers' understanding of potato disease and pest management practices.In conclusion, the findings underscore the importance of tailored educational initiatives to address knowledge gaps and promote sustainable practices in potato farming in the studied region.