Maize farmers’ perceptions of fall armyworm invasion in Burkina Faso: bridging awareness and action

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Résumé

The Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda Smith, 1797) (FAW) is an invasive pest affecting maize yields and grain qual
ity in Burkina Faso since 2017. Despite various control methods being employed, stakeholders are still struggling with its
impact on agricultural production. This study aims to contribute to the body of knowledge on FAW and its management.
To this end, a survey was conducted from July to September 2022 among 90 farmers in three regions of Burkina Faso
(Mid-West, Mid-South, and Central Plateau). The investigation focused on farmers’ knowledge of Spodoptera frugiperda,
methods for detecting it, the damage it causes to maize, control methods, and the presence of natural enemies in fields.
The study found that all farmers in Burkina Faso were aware of Spodoptera frugiperda. Three main methods of detection
used by farmers were: (i) observation of the presence of feces on plants (40.0% in Mid-West, 16.7% in Mid-South, and
33.0% in Central Plateau); (ii) leaves and sheaves perforations (56.7% in Mid-West, 63.3% in Mid-South, and 66.7%
in Central Plateau); (iii) presence of caterpillars on plants (33.3% in Mid-West and 20.0% in Mid-South). Damage was
primarily observed on leaves. Chemical control was the preferred method among producers (96.7% in Mid-West, 83.3%
in Mid-South, and 66.7% in Central Plateau). The survey also revealed the presence of natural enemies, with earwigs and
bees being the significant ones. To effectively manage this pest, farmers need proper training to adhere to good agricultural
practices

Mots-clés

Spodoptera frugiperda, maize pests, farmer perceptions, pest damage, chemical control, natural enemies, Dermaptera, bees, invasive pest management, good agricultural practices, Burkina Faso