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The major goals of agriculture worldwide are to produce sufficient food for the growing
population, to generate incomes for farmers and to boost the Gross Domestic Product through the
agricultural industry. With the increasing urbanisation there is a corresponding increased demand
for food by the urban population, which is itself not directly involved in crop production.
Africa has a relatively large rural population, consisting mainly of small-holder farmers whose
contribution to the economies of individual countries is highly significant. However one of the
major constraints in crop production in Africa is the damage caused by diseases and pests,
particularly arthropods, vertebrates, and weeds. In all world economies, wherever new
innovations and high technological inputs have boosted agricultural production, pest problems
have increased or have become more severe. World wide these pests account for losses of about
36% of the potential yield, and in storage, another 14% of the potential yield is lost (FAO 1973).
Africa has experienced many changes in agriculture in the last 5 decades, through improvement
in farming systems, pest and disease management and increased yield of both staple and cash
crops. Research aimed at producing crop varieties that are high yielding, and with other desirable
characteristics like drought and pest tolerance has become intensified in the last 3 decades.
However, these developments have not always reached the small-holder farmers or have been
inadequate. Pests, particularly arthropods and vertebrates continue to ravage the crops and
without proper crop protection systems, farmers shall lose all or a large proportion of their crops.
These pests are controlled mainly with pesticides when these are available. However, serious
problems often arise from their indiscriminate use, particularly through the disruption of the
natural ecosystem and pollution. These consequences are unacceptable and call for the need to
develop pest management strategies, which are appropriate, hence sustainable, and cost effective
in maintaining the pest population below the economic thresholds, while at the same time
conserving the environment.
The purpose of the chapter is to focus on pest management strategies and the challenges before
us, particularly on feasible research and technologies that can be used to reduce the damage and
losses caused by pests. |
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