A survey on pests and diseases field management practices in Kada Areas

The research was conducted in the area of Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA) paddy fields. The objective of this research were to document the pests and diseases of paddy fields in KADA and to record the pests and diseases field management practices applied in KADA paddy fields. Survey research was conducted towards 30 respondents consists of KADA paddy growers, randomly selected in three divisions of KADA areas. Questionnaire was used to ask on what pests and diseases existed in their paddy fields and field management practices that had been conducted by them. Questionnaire consists of four parts which were basic management practices, pests management practices, diseases management practices and demographic information. Nine basic management practices out of 13 that were asked in questionnaire were completely followed by farmers. One out of four pests management practices asked in the next section were conducted by all farmers. For diseases management practices, two over five practices asked were applied by all farmers. 63% farmers used only chemicals to control pests while the rest combined both chemical and biological method to control pests. 80% farmers used banned pesticides to control rats and 93% farmers used banned pesticides to control golden apple snails. For the other type of pests, all of the farmers used subsidized pesticides. 100% farmers used combined cultural and chemical methods to control diseases and all of them also used subsidized fungicides to control diseases. Practices conducted by the paddy growers were also affected by their demographic factors.