Pest control for the storage of cowpea by small scale farmers in SSA towards participation in action-research

The project Organisations –DfID –NRI, MOFA, SARI, NGOs, Farmers unions… Duration Research to Action-research & Participatory research Cowpea ( Black-eye bean ) –Traditional - widespread –Beans, leaves, fodder –Adapted – drought, poor soil Storage on farm Pest damage Adapted solution –Effective –Safe –Affordable –Acceptable

Location

SSA

Ghana

Northern region Rainy season: July - September

Dry season Dry season: November - May

Tamale market

Cowpea with damage

Cowpea and bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus

Surveys

Damage on stored cowpea Farmers coping strategy Control methods

On-farm surveys Northern Ghana Farmers stores Surveys –monthly assessments –dry season –% damage –2 years

DecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep % damage Surveys Number of farmers affected Damage on stored cowpea in the Northern Region during the storage season 96-97

JanFebMarAprMayJunJul Surveys Damage on stored cowpea in the Northern Region during the storage season 97-98: 131 farmers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAug Surveys Farmers stop storage – variation of damage (131 farmers)

On-farm trials DecJanFebMarAprMayJun

Surveys: control methods used on cowpea TreatmentRegion Mean % damage Number of farmers Cypermethrin / sun driedNR66.21 Phosphine / CypermethrinNR60.11 CypermethrinNR45.38 Sumicombi (Fenitrothion + Fenvalerate) NR44.54 sun driedNR40.51 not treatedNR36.29 Cypermethrin / SumicombiNR36.02 NapthaleneNR23.42 PhosphineNR17.45 Mix with ash, no heat: heated over fire later UER7.81 Mix with ashUER7.42 Heat over fire and mix ashUER6.231 Heat over fire and mix ash and orange peel UER3.51

Type of treatmentTreatmentRegion Mean % damage Number of farmers Not treated-NR UER4.51 Actellic2% dustNR16.71 (Pirimiphos methyl)25% emulsifiable concentrateNR9.11 Dry materialsMixed with wood ashUER3.42 mixedMixed with ash and kul-enkaUER2.11 Kimkim mixed with seedUER0.92 Water basedImmerse in warm waterUER5.71 ashImmerse in ash in warm waterUER1.41 Steamed ash in water, pored over bambara, driedUER1.33 Immerse in warm water, dry, mix in ashUER0.63 dawadawaDawadawa seed boiled in water, poured over grainUER10.73 Dawadawa seed boiled in water, poured over grain, coat with ash UER0.11 Dawadawa seed and kimkim boiled in water, poured over grain UER3.21 kimkimDipped in boiled kimkim waterNR2.512 Immerse in kimkim boiled waterUER6.45 Immerse in kimkim and neem leaves boiled waterUER26.51 Immerse in kimkim boiled water, dry, mix with ashUER1.22 Immerse in kimkim boiled water, dry,UER0.65 shea butterSoak in shea butter waste waterNR2.06 Immerse in water in which shea butter dissolvedUER1.62 neem & orange peelAdded orange peel to water with neemUER0.01

On-station trials

Test of control methods From surveys: –Ash –Chilli –Shea nut butter –Shea nut residue –Plant extracts From literature: –Hermetic storage –Solarisation

Solarisation 0 11:1611:4612:1612:4613:1613:4614:1614:46 Time of day 57.3 Threshold (degrees C) Temperature (degrees C) cowpea 1-2cmcowpea 5cm bambara 1-2cmbambara 5cm ambient

On-farm trials

On-farm test of control methods Selected from on- station results Set-up after harvest Monthly assessment of damage during dry season Control: no treatment –20 farmers –20 kg –bag

1999 trial 0 % 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % Hermetic Solarisation + Shea nut Shea nut Kim-kim Control Ash Chilli Palaga Percentage damage Average damage increase after 2 months of storage (with SEM)

2000 trial

Farmers trials

Would farmers use or recommend the treatment? ControlSolar. + ash Solar. Monthly Solar. + shea yes no Results On-farm trials Average damage (with SEM) at the end of the storage period ControlSolar. + ash Solar. monthly Solar. + shea Percentage damage April May June Farmers' perceptions of the treatment used Control Solar. + ash Solar. Monthly Solar. + shea v. good good OK not good Number of respondents Germination tests % 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% ControlSolar. + ash Solar. Monthly Solar. + shea Percentage seeds germinating (with number of farmers testing) Rank of germination test among criteria

Extension

Dagbani version

Two locations

Uganda

Reporting

Final workshop

Conclusions Viable solution? –Cost –Scaling up –Follow up Learning process –Collaborative work - decentralisation –From academic research to farmers participatory research…