Farmers and Agricultural Extension Officers Perception of Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke Parasitism on Cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana
Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] is an important food security crop in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, cowpea production in some parts of this region is constrained by Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke infestation resulting in yield losses. This study assessed the farmers and agricultural extensio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Advances in Agriculture |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/7319204 |
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| author | Peter Haruna Aaron T. Asare Elvis Asare-Bediako Francis Kusi |
| author_facet | Peter Haruna Aaron T. Asare Elvis Asare-Bediako Francis Kusi |
| author_sort | Peter Haruna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] is an important food security crop in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, cowpea production in some parts of this region is constrained by Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke infestation resulting in yield losses. This study assessed the farmers and agricultural extension officers (AEOs) perception of S. gesnerioides parasitism on cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana. In all, 200 respondents—179 cowpea farmers and 21 AEOs—in five cowpea growing districts were randomly sampled to answer closed- and opened-ended questions coupled with visit to cowpea farms. Majority of the farmer respondents were males between the ages of 21 and 60 with very little or no formal education. Almost all of the respondents could identify the parasitic weed, S. gesnerioides, but they lacked adequate knowledge of the parasitic effects on the host, cowpea plant. S. gesnerioides infestation was widespread and devastating in almost all the fields surveyed. Its effects on the host plants (cowpea) included stunted growth, leaf senescence, chlorosis, death of the crop, and reduced yield. Different management strategies employed by the farmers to contain the spread of the parasite include weeding (90%), application of manure (5.5%), and crop rotation and fallowing (4.0%). Both farmers and extension officers had very little knowledge on existence of S. gesnerioides resistant cowpea genotypes for cultivation. Farmers expressed the desire to cultivate Striga-resistant cowpea varieties when made accessible, since it is the most reliable and environmentally friendly method of controlling the parasitic weed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd6e4dd5bee649ddad7e633e5a3ff4b8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2356-654X 2314-7539 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd6e4dd5bee649ddad7e633e5a3ff4b82025-02-03T01:11:50ZengWileyAdvances in Agriculture2356-654X2314-75392018-01-01201810.1155/2018/73192047319204Farmers and Agricultural Extension Officers Perception of Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke Parasitism on Cowpea in the Upper East Region of GhanaPeter Haruna0Aaron T. Asare1Elvis Asare-Bediako2Francis Kusi3Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaDepartment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaDepartment of Crop Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaSavannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), P.O. Box 46, Manga Station, Bawku, GhanaCowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] is an important food security crop in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, cowpea production in some parts of this region is constrained by Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke infestation resulting in yield losses. This study assessed the farmers and agricultural extension officers (AEOs) perception of S. gesnerioides parasitism on cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana. In all, 200 respondents—179 cowpea farmers and 21 AEOs—in five cowpea growing districts were randomly sampled to answer closed- and opened-ended questions coupled with visit to cowpea farms. Majority of the farmer respondents were males between the ages of 21 and 60 with very little or no formal education. Almost all of the respondents could identify the parasitic weed, S. gesnerioides, but they lacked adequate knowledge of the parasitic effects on the host, cowpea plant. S. gesnerioides infestation was widespread and devastating in almost all the fields surveyed. Its effects on the host plants (cowpea) included stunted growth, leaf senescence, chlorosis, death of the crop, and reduced yield. Different management strategies employed by the farmers to contain the spread of the parasite include weeding (90%), application of manure (5.5%), and crop rotation and fallowing (4.0%). Both farmers and extension officers had very little knowledge on existence of S. gesnerioides resistant cowpea genotypes for cultivation. Farmers expressed the desire to cultivate Striga-resistant cowpea varieties when made accessible, since it is the most reliable and environmentally friendly method of controlling the parasitic weed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/7319204 |
| spellingShingle | Peter Haruna Aaron T. Asare Elvis Asare-Bediako Francis Kusi Farmers and Agricultural Extension Officers Perception of Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke Parasitism on Cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana Advances in Agriculture |
| title | Farmers and Agricultural Extension Officers Perception of Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke Parasitism on Cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana |
| title_full | Farmers and Agricultural Extension Officers Perception of Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke Parasitism on Cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Farmers and Agricultural Extension Officers Perception of Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke Parasitism on Cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Farmers and Agricultural Extension Officers Perception of Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke Parasitism on Cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana |
| title_short | Farmers and Agricultural Extension Officers Perception of Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke Parasitism on Cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana |
| title_sort | farmers and agricultural extension officers perception of striga gesnerioides willd vatke parasitism on cowpea in the upper east region of ghana |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/7319204 |
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