Distribution of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in three vegetation habitats in the Marigat area, Baringo District, Kenya.

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

The Concept of Ecostacking: Techniques and Applications

Publication Date

3-26-2024

Abstract

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the most popular and vital fruit crops grown in the tropics and subtropical regions of the world. Yet, the productivity of the fruit is still below its potential owing to various constraints, key among which are insect pests and diseases. The invasive fruit fy Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) poses a particularly major threat to the production and trade of mango in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To manage the pest, many farmers in developing countries, including SSA, rely on synthetic chemical pesticides, which are often associated with high health and environmental risks, as well as interception of produce in international markets and the high cost of production for the resource-poor farmers. The use of integrated pest management (IPM) has been recommended as a more sustainable alternative to widespread broad-spectrum chemical insecticidal application in developing countries. During the past decade, fruit fy IPM has been promoted in SSA. Although a notable impact of the IPM approach has been recorded, IPM adoption is surprisingly low. To achieve sustainable intensifcation of mango productivity in SSA, integrating conventional IPM with other non-pesticide options such as the auto-dissemination technique (ADT) may enhance the economic gains from mango enterprises for the African populace. We conducted a feld experiment to evaluate the feasibility of integrating ADT with the male annihilation technique (MAT) (one of the conventional IPM components) for suppression of B. dorsalis infestation rate to reduce the magnitude of mango losses in one of the mango-producing regions in Kenya. The experiment compared the outcome variables for three treatments: MAT only, ADT only, and MAT and ADT. The results revealed that integrating MAT and ADT reduced the infestation rate by more than 48% compared to using MAT alone. Subsequently, mango losses caused by the pest decreased signifcantly. Although the study was conducted in Kenya, the lessons learned are universal for mango-growing regions in SSA. Integrating ADT into conventional IPM may enhance the sustainable management of invasive fruit fies in SSA.

ISBN

[9781789248708, 9781789248692]

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