Factors affecting the farmers' choice of sigatoka banana disease control method among small-scale farmers in Cameroon

Agbor Tabi Sylvanus, BSc

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Bananas are an important cash crop in Cameroon, contributing significantly to the national economy and the livelihood of local farmers. However, the production of the crop is seriously affected by the black and yellow (which is common in the temperate regions, reason why we focus on the black sigatoka because of geographical location which is in the tropic and sub tropic) sigatoka disease of banana, which has led to devastating effects, especially among smallholder farmers. This study investigates the control methods used and factors that influence the use of different control methods to manage sigatoka disease. The data used for the study was collected from 322 smallholder banana farmers in the Limbe and Buea districts of Cameroon in the year 2022. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logit were used in analysing the data. The majority of farmers (78.6%) have encountered sigatoka disease on their farms, with predominant symptoms reported as black dots and dry patches on the leaves (41.6%). Farmers reported a significant impact of black sigatoka on the price and yields (62.4% and 55.3%, respectively). There are three control mechanisms used by the farmers: chemical control, non-chemical control and no control at all. The use of chemical fungicides is the most preferred controlling mechanism among farmers (69.9%) as compared to other control methods. The results of the multinomial logistic regression indicate that the use of organic(agroecological) pest management is less likely among farmers who are older, religious, have more farming experience, own more land, have larger farms, and have access to extension services, compared to those who use chemicals. On the other hand, farmers with higher educating and better training who have agriculture as the main occupation and bananas as a prior income generating activity tend to apply more organic and or agroecological control methods, which are more sustainable and less harmful to the environment. Therefore, we suggest that farmers receive training in organic and agroecological control methods, and that extension workers are trained to effectively disseminate knowledge of these (agroecological) methods.

Keywords

sigatoka disease, socio-economic factors, chemical control, organic control, training, extension services

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 28. 4. 2024

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ayat Ullah, Dr.
• Reader: Faizal Adams, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme:
Tropical Farming Systems