Farmers' Views on the Variegated Grasshopper in Southern Cameroon
Author Information
Author(s): Kekeunou Sévilor, Weise Stephan, Messi Jean, Tamò Manuel
Primary Institution: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
Hypothesis
What is the importance of Zonocerus variegatus in the agricultural production systems of Southern Cameroon?
Conclusion
Farmers perceive Zonocerus variegatus as an important pest, particularly on annual crops, and its incidence has increased due to deforestation and herbaceous fallows.
Supporting Evidence
- Z. variegatus is ranked as the third most economically important insect pest of agriculture.
- Farmers reported an increase in Z. variegatus pressure due to deforestation.
- Physical methods of control are preferred over chemical methods among farmers.
Takeaway
Farmers in Southern Cameroon think the variegated grasshopper is a big problem for their crops, especially because there are fewer trees now.
Methodology
Farmers were interviewed in 15 villages using a semi-structured survey.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in responses due to social desirability or misunderstanding of questions.
Limitations
The study may not capture all farmers' perceptions across different regions.
Participant Demographics
389 farmers (225 men and 164 women) aged 18 to 50 years from 15 villages.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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