Title: Farmers' perspectives on the biotic constraint of Striga hermonthica and its control in western Kenya
Abstract: Witchweed, Striga hermonthica (hereafter, referred to as “Striga”), is a major biotic constraint to cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa. The parasitic plant is a socioeconomic problem that has forced some resource-poor farmers to abandon their farms due to high infestation. This study was designed in order to elucidate farmers' perceptions of Striga control measures and to determine their potential adoption in two villages in western Kenya. Participatory rural appraisals and individual interviews were conducted in 2009 and 2010 in a sample of 128 and 120 households in Kaura and Kogweno-Oriang villages in Homabay and Rachuonyo districts, respectively. The results revealed that crop production was the main occupation in most households. The farmers identified Striga as one of the major constraints to maize, sorghum, and finger millet production. According to the farmers, the most popular control measures were hand-pulling, crop rotation, and intercropping, even though rotational systems might need a longer timeframe to reduce the soil seed bank of Striga. Although the level of Striga infestation and damage were increasing in the farmers' fields, the adoption of the control options was limited. The reason for the low adoption level of the control methods by the farmers is because they are “too risky” as there is no guarantee of a direct pay-off in increased crop yield. Farmer-led evaluation and adaptation of the various Striga control technologies in real-life situations will facilitate the choice of appropriate options and facilitate their uptake.[ATERA, E. A., ITOH, K., AZUMA, T. and ISHII, T. (2012). Farmers' perspectives on the biotic constraint of Striga hermonthica and its control in western Kenya. Weed Biology and Management, 12: 53–62. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-6664.2012.00435.x]
Keywords: control methods; farmers' perceptions; Kenya; participatory research; Striga