Effect of survey farmers’ knowledge and practices on the yield of sugarcane in Pakistan

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum interspecific hybrids) yield is greatly affected by different pests in Pakistan. A total of three hundred and thirty-six (336) volunteer sugarcane farmers were interviewed and their fields inspected. Major pests were noted as; rat (Bandicota bengalensis), termites (Heterotermes indicola), borer (Bissetia steniellus), and leafhopper (Pyrilla perpusilla). These occurred in single and combined status in sugarcane fields. Most (147/336) of the sugarcane farmers mentioned four types of pests in their fields. In general 200/336 of the sugarcane farmers had applied pesticides in single and combined forms in their fields, they achieved a maximum average yield of 80 t ha−1. The number of farmers who applied malathion was 36/336. They achieved an average yield of 105.5 kg ha−1. Only one sugarcane farmer applied regent and furadon in combined form and obtained an average yield of 92.6 kg ha−1 in their field.Linear regression showed a significant relationship between average sugarcane yield and pest infestation (R2 = 0.9689) as well as pesticide application (R2 = 0.9128) in the area investigated. In total 299 out of the 336 sugarcane farmers were small size landholders up to 2 ha. A limited number (35/336) of the farmers visited the public agricultural extension department for information and application techniques of pesticides against pests. It will be fruitful if the public and private agricultural extension departments start awareness programmes on pest infestation among sugarcane farmers and train them to practice recommended pesticide applications in their sugarcane fields.

Keywords

• Sugarcane
• Field pests
• Pesticide types
• Land size
• Educational status
• Tenure position