Identifying and managing plant health risks for key African crops: vegetables

Description

In many West African countries, vegetable production is a key sector of urban and peri-urban agriculture. However, production is undermined by biotic constraints, mainly arthropod pests, disease-causing organisms and plant parasitic nematodes. In an attempt to combat this, farmers frequently use broad-spectrum and highly toxic pesticides. However, farmers’ coping strategies against pests and production constraints remain largely ineffective. This chapter reviews some key biotic constraints and presents a number of alternative management strategies. For instance, IITA identified and developed biopesticide Bba5653 to control Plutella xylostella on cabbage. Attempts were made to develop botanical pesticides such as cassava peels against root knot nematodes. In Benin, natural enemies of aphids were recorded, with Lysiphlebus testaceipes emerging as a promising element in aphid management strategies. We conclude that there is a need to increase farmers’ awareness of the side effects of highly toxic pesticide use and to offer training on the use of biopesticides and botanicals and the preservation of pests’ natural enemies.

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 Biotic constraints to vegetable production 3 Problems in pesticide use 4 Biological alternatives to pesticides for pest control 5 Conclusions 6 References