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A study was conducted using a structured questionnaire to obtain information about the nature and
extent of rodent damage to crops, farmer’s perceptions of crop pests and their knowledge, attitudes and practices to
their management in Tanzania and Ethiopia. The study was carried out in five localities (Makuyu -Central Tanzania;
Chunya-Southwest Tanzania; Ziway and Adami Tulu (south of Addis Ababa) and Gumer/Limmo-South-west of
Addis Ababa, both in Central Ethiopia). In Tanzania, maize is the major crop, both for food and sale. Other crops
are sorghum, rice, simsim, groundnuts and millet. In Central Ethiopia, farmers grow maize, sorghum, teff, beans,
barley, wheat, potatoes and enset. The study showed that farmers in Tanzania and Ethiopia are well aware of rodent
problems and considered them to be number one pest. Rodent problems are regular and maize is the most affected
crop in Tanzania. In Ethiopia, maize, enset and potatoes are the most affected crops. Maize in Ethiopia and Tanzania
is susceptible to rodent damage, most seriously at planting and seedling stage. Although different rodent control
techniques are practiced in Tanzania, farmers prefer using rodenticides (68.7%) to other strategies. In Ethiopia, trap-
ping, hunting and rodenticides are the most practised techniques for rodent control. Farmer’s attempts to control
rodents in both countries are based on economic reasons and generally, rodent control is not undertaken when there
are no crops in the fields. Farmers are responsible for rodent control activities in their individual fields. The study
shows that farmers in Tanzania and Ethiopia are concerned with rodent infestation and are also aware of the critical
growth stage when the crops are most susceptible. A lack of multiple rodent management methods and inadequate
knowledge of appropriate and sustainable techniques appeared to be the main reasons for the over dependence on
rodenticides, particularly in Tanzania. Therefore, this suggests that farmers require a strong extension input to man-
age rodent problems |
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