Integrated Pest Management for Brassica Production in East Africa: A Guidebook

Authors

• A. A. Seif, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)
• Brigitte Nyambo, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)

Files

Description

Introduction

Many of the important agricultural and horticultural crops cultivated worldwide belong to the genus Brassica.

The main brassicas grown in East Africa are cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata); kale, also called choumolea (B. oleracea L. var. acephala); Chinese cabbage (B. campestris L. var. sinensis); cauliflower (B. oleracea L. var. botrytis); broccoli (B. oleracea L. var. botrytis); and Brussel sprouts (B. oleracea L. var. gemmifera).

These vegetables are grown mainly for local markets and domestic use. They are valuable sources of vitamins and minerals, as well as a source of cash for small-scale farmers in rural and peri-urban areas. However, production is often constrained by damage caused by a range of insects, diseases, nematodes and weeds. The range of pests attacking brassicas is similar, but the relative importance of individual pest species varies between the different crops and among countries. The major insect pests of brassica include diamondback moth (DBM), cabbage aphids, cabbage webworm, cabbage cluster caterpillar and Bagrada bugs. Black rot, turnip mosaic virus and bacterial soft rot constitute the main diseases. Farmers in East Africa depend overwhelmingly on the use of pesticides—often applied on a calendar basis—for pest control. The control of these pests is becoming increasingly difficult, uneconomic and environmentally damaging. Important pests such as the DBM have developed resistance to a wide range of commonly used pesticides. Furthermore, the incidence of turnip mosaic virus, which is transmitted by aphids, has increased in East Africa in recent years. As a result many farmers have resorted to the application of insecticide cocktails, as well as spraying more often. This has led to an increase in the level of contamination of the farm environment; high pesticide residues in the produce; health risks to farm workers and consumers; and increased cost of production. There is therefore urgent need for alternative control options, in order to become less dependent on synthetic pesticides.

ISBN

978-9966-063-00-7

Publication Date

2013

Publisher

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)

Recommended Citation

Seif, A. A., & Nyambo, B. (2013). Integrated Pest Management for Brassica Production in East Africa: A Guidebook. Retrieved from https://thehive.icipe.org/manuals/26