Article abstract

Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research

Research Article | Published October 2022 | Volume 10, Issue 7. pp. 131-143.

doi: https://doi.org/10.33495/jacr_v10i7.22.121

 

Smallholder farmers’ perceptions of maize ear rot disease and opportunities for tolerant maize varieties in the bimodal humid forest zone and western highlands of Cameroon

 



 

 

Foncha Felix1, 2*

Mafouasson Apala Hortense Noelle3

Kouam Eric Bertrand1

Christopher Suh3

Walter Ajambang Nchu2

Kenfack Fongang Patrick4

 

Email Author

 

1. Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences (FASA), University of Dschang, P.O Box 222, Dschang, Cameroon.

2. Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Bambui, P.O Box 51 Bamenda, Cameroon.

3. Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), P.O Box 2123 Yaoundé, Cameroon.

4. Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) Mbalmayo, P.O Box 2067 Yaoundé, Cameroon.


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Citation: Felix F, Noelle MAH, Bertrand KE, Suh C, Nchu WA, Patrick KF (2022). Smallholder farmers’ perceptions of maize ear rot disease and opportunities for tolerant maize varieties in the bimodal humid forest zone and western highlands of Cameroon. J. Agric. Crop Res. 10(7):131-143. doi: 10.33495/jacr_v10i7.22.121.

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 Abstract 


Disease and pests are among the major constraints limiting maize productivity by smallholder farmers in Cameroon. The objective of this study was to investigate Cameroonian smallholder farmers’ preferred maize qualities and their implications on breeding. A participatory rural appraisal was carried out across four sites in Cameroon. Focus group discussions and interviews were held with 205 randomly selected farmers on issues regarding major maize production constraints, e.g., ear rots, associated mycotoxins, coping mechanisms, and existing cropping systems. Maize ear rots, production constraints and farmers’ preferences were scored and ranked. Maize ear rot disease was ranked as the deadliest disease in maize next to maize streak virus and stalk rot disease. Based on the descriptions given by the majority of farmers about maize ear rot cases in their farms, the occurrence of Aspergillus ear rot was the most abundant (93.5%) which was caused by too much rainfall during the physiological maturity of the maize ear. Across all study sites and by gender, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the factors responsible for maize ear rot disease. Late harvesting (65.6% male and 59.8% female) and lack of disease-resistant varieties were also perceived as some of the most important factors contributing to the high maize ear rot disease. Less than 10% of farmers were aware of mycotoxins. In order to increase the adoption rate of improved maize varieties, breeders should aim at developing varieties that are not only ear-rot resistant but also meet farmers’ preferred traits.

Keywords  Disease resistance   maize   ear rots   mycotoxins   production constraint   variety preference 

 

 

Copyright © 2022 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

 

 

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