Farmers perception of the effects and effectiveness of control method of maize weevil on stored maize grain: a case study Centenary ward 14, Gatu.
- Author
- Machida, Tendai
- Title
- Farmers perception of the effects and effectiveness of control method of maize weevil on stored maize grain: a case study Centenary ward 14, Gatu.
- Abstract
- Maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) insect is a serious storage pest of maize grain, causing serious damage of up to 90% grain loss in Gatu of Mash central province in Zimbabwe. This study was conducted in Gatu to assess the perceptions of farmers on maize weevil effects and effectiveness of control methods on stored maize grain. The following were the specific objectives of the study: (i) to identify different sources of information for farmers on maize weevil pest and its management. (ii) To understand the different control/ management measures being implemented by farmers towards maize weevil pest and how effective are these. (iii) To assess what challenges do farmers face when dealing with maize weevil. To achieve this, a survey was conducted on sampled maize farmers in Chipiri farms, ward 14 in Gatu. The majority of respondents were female (67.5%), while males made up 32.5% of the sample. Most respondents had attained secondary education (75%), followed by primary education (22.5%), with only 2.5% reaching the tertiary level. The largest age groups were 20–34 years and 55–80 years, each representing of the sample. The remaining were35 –44 years (25%) and 45–54 years (15%).All respondents , indicated that they were controlling maize weevil but most of the interviewed farmers were using synthetic pesticides and the remaining farmers used cultural control methods and respondents were challenges such as lack of adequate information on other control methods other than chemical control, Most synthetic pesticides were expensive to the extent that farmers under apply the chemicals so as to treat all grain or the ended up treating their gain once per year.
- Date
- June 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Maize weevil
- Sitophilus zeamais
- Supervisor
- Mr. Mutsengi
- Item sets
- Department of Crop Sciences
