RICE PESTS IN THE IVORY-COAST, WEST-AFRICA - FARMERS PERCEPTIONS AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

An understanding of farmers' perceptions of pests and their existing pest control methods can make an important contribution to the development of effective integrated pest management strategies. While the relatively successful rice IPM technologies in Asia have been extensively documented in studies examining farmers' pest perceptions and management practices, studies examining, specifically, perceptions and management practices of West Af rican rice farmers are rare. This may reflect the more limited success to date in the implementation of rice IPM strategies in the region. This paper describes rice pests, pest perceptions and management practices of smallholder rice farmers in the Ivory Coast. It was found that the major rice pests, as perceived by farmers, are weeds, vertebrates (birds and rodents) and insects. Farmers are generally unable to diagnose rice plant diseases and thus did not consider them as important production constraints. Implications are derived for an integrated pest management strategy that incorporates farmers' perceptions and builds on their existing cultural control practices.