Assessing Vegetable Farmer Knowledge of Diseases and Insect Pests of Vegetable and Management Practices Under Tropical Conditions

In order to understand management of vegetable pests under tropical conditions, farmer knowledge of pest etiology and epidemiology was investigated in Mar. 2009. About 78% of vegetable farmers were men aged 31–40, with 51% having little formal education. About 21% of farmers can identify diseases and 16% can identify insects. Over 80% grow susceptible varieties. Ninety-two percent of farmers used synthetics pesticides. About 92% were willing to accept resistant varieties. This willingness provides a basis for further collaboration to employ resistant varieties and promote integrated pest management.