Greener
Journal of  Agricultural Sciences
Vol. 2 (8), pp.412-423,
December
2012

 ISSN: 2276-7770 

Research
Paper

Manuscript Number:110912244

 

Farmers’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Fruit Fly Pests
and Their Management in Northern Ghana

 

Badii Kongyeli Benjamin, Billah Maxwell Kelvin,
Afreh-Nuamah Kwame and Obeng-Ofori Daniel

 

 

Department of Agronomy, University for Development
Studies, P. O. Box TL 1882, Tamale, Ghana,

Department of Crop Science, University of Ghana, P. O.
Box LG 44, Legon, Ghana,

Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Sciences,
University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 44, Legon, Ghana,

Corresponding Author’s Email: benbedii @
yahoo.com, Tel: +233243503313

Abstract: 

Farmer-level knowledge is an important component of the
action plan of the fruit fly committee of Ghana. A survey
was conducted among 188 fruit growers in 20 districts in
northern Ghana between February and May, 2012, to assess
their knowledge, perceptions and practices (KPP) regarding
fruit fly pests. Semi-structured questions designed in an
open- and closed-ended fashion were used to assess farmers’
KPP about the pests. Majority (90 %) of the farmers were
already aware of the fruit fly problem in the country with
55.3% perceiving it to be very serious. Majority (80.9%) of
farmers however, demonstrated poor knowledge in identifying
the fruit fly species of economic importance, especially the
new African invader fruit fly, Bactrocera invadens. Farmers
were more conversant with the economic impact of fruit flies
than their direct damage symptoms on host fruits. A total of
39% growers took no action to control fruit flies in their
farms. Recommended fruit fly control strategies such as
pheromone trapping, bait application, soil inoculation and
biological control were either unknown or inaccessible to
growers. A total of (72%) applied chemicals that were not
recommended for the control of fruit flies without
considering their environmental and health risks. It is
important to train fruit growers to improve their
capabilities for fruit fly management through farmers’ field
schools appropriate for helping them acquire basic knowledge
of fruit fly pests and their control, and enable the most
receptive farmers to reach a level of independent
decision-makers.
 
Keywords: Fruit growers, Knowledge, Perceptions,
Fruit fly pests, Northern Ghana.

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