Farmers’ Perceptions of Maize Production Constraints and the Effects of Push–Pull Technology on Soil Fertility, Pest Infestation, and Maize Yield in Southwest Ethiopia

Mekonnen Sime, Shifa Ballo, Zewdu Abro, Desalegn Amlaku Gugissa, Esayas Mendesil and Tadele Tefera ()
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Mekonnen Sime: Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 2003, Ethiopia
Shifa Ballo: International Center of Insect Physiology & Ecology ( icipe ), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia
Desalegn Amlaku Gugissa: College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia
Esayas Mendesil: College of Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 307, Ethiopia
Tadele Tefera: International Center of Insect Physiology & Ecology ( icipe ), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze farmers’ perceptions of maize production constraints and determine the effects of push–pull technology (PPT) on crop yield, pest control, and improving soil fertility status. Increasing fertilizer prices and pesticide prices, FAWs (fall armyworms) and stemborers, declining soil fertility, and drought are the main maize production constraints in the area. Seventy percent of the respondents indicated that an increase in input prices such as those of fertilizer and seeds is the major constraint in the area, while FAWs (55%) and stemborers (44.3%) were ranked the third and fourth major constraints. About 67% of farmers reported that stemborer damage to maize in PPT plots was either minimal or non-existent. Fifty-five percent of farmers stated that the damage caused to maize by FAWs was low or that there was no damage in PPT plots. PPT reduced stem borer infestation from 83% to 44%. The yield gained from PPT plots ranged from 18% to 31%. Soil samples taken from PPT plots showed improved soil organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, and cation exchange capacity.

Keywords: brachiaria; Desmodium; pest management; soil health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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