Farmers' opinions and influence of cultural practices on soil pest damage to groundnut in West Africa

Farmers in the groundnut belts of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Benin in West Africa were interviewed for their ability to identify economically importanct soil pests infesting their groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) crops, and to obtain information on farm histories and cultural practices which may influence soil pest infestation and spread in a field. Termites, whitegrubs and millipedes were recognised by the farmers as being the most important soil pests, with termites being the most damaging group. A negative correlation (P < 0.05) was found between the number of years a farm was cultivated and the frequency of termite occurrence in it. Information on cultural practices obtained from interviews and field visits indicated that practices such as late harvesting and the leaving behind of residues of previous sorghum, millet and maize crops increased termite infestation. The cutting down and burning of the vegetation in a farm before planting significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the percentage of plants attacked by termites. The cultivation of short-duration (< 100 days) varieties to escape drought at the end of the cropping season did not significantly reduce termite damage, due to late harvest. Other farmers’ practices which are likely to have contributed to soil pest damage are also discussed.