Pest management and other agricultural practices among farmers growing cruciferous vegetables in the Central and Western highlands of Kenya and the Western Himalayas of India

A survey of 125 farmers was conducted in 2005 in the Central and Western highlands of Kenya and the Kullu valley in the Western Himalayas of India to investigate pest management practices and constraints among farmers growing cruciferous vegetables. Lepidopteran insects were the most important pests affecting the crops and pest management relied primarily on application of pyrethroid and/or organophosphate insecticides with high environmental impact quotients (measuring the potential negative effects of insecticides on human and environmental health) averaging 65.6 in the Kenya highlands and 55.7 in the Kullu valley. Just over half (54.4%) of farmers based their decision to apply insecticides on the presence of the pest in the crop, around a third (30.4%) based it on a calendar, and 15.2% based it on both. Farmers cited their own experience (66.4%) and pesticide providers (44.8%) as the main sources of pest management information, while advice from extension (24%) and other farmers (15.2%) was less important. Most farmers interviewed (94%) were not aware of natural enemies. Possibilities to improve pest management practices are discussed in the context of the farmers interviewed.