Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T06:08:25.340Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The development and adoption of integrated pest management of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), in Tunisia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

K. Fuglie
Affiliation:
International Potato Center (CIP) Region IV: North Africa and Middle East, 11 Rue de Oranges-2080 Ariana, Tunisié
H. Ben Salah
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Tunisian National Agricultural Research Institute (INRAT)
M. Essamet
Affiliation:
Department of Rural Economics, INRAT
A. Ben Temime
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Tunisian National Agricultural Research Institute (INRAT)
A. Rahmouni
Affiliation:
Department of Rural Economics, INRAT
Get access

Abstract

The growing recognition of problems associated with chemical pesticide use has led to increased attention on integrated pest management (IPM). This paper describes how Tunisian potato farmers have learned to manage an important field and postharvest insect pest, the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), and how interdisciplinary research on integrated pest management has contributed to this process. During the 1980s, new pest control technology and better farmer awareness led to changes in how farmers manage the potato tuber moth in their fields and stores. Farmers reduced insecticide treatments in potato fields and made more use of agronomic practices to avoid crop losses from the insect pest. New government regulations and agricultural extension efforts have caused farmers to discontinue use of environmentally harmful chemicals such as DDT. Research is continuing on biological insecticides that are not toxic to mammals and some farmer adoption of these products has occurred.

Résumé

La prise de conscience grandissante des problèmes lies à l'utilisation des pesticides chimiques attire de plus en plus l'attention sur la lutte intégrée. Cet article décrit comment les agriculteurs tunisiens ont appris à gérer les populations d'un insecte ravageur: la teigne de la pomme de terre. II montre aussi, comment la recherche interdisciplinaire a contribué à ce processus. Durant les années 1980 une nouvelle technologie de contrôle ainsi qu'une meillure sensibilisation des agriculteurs, ont suscité des changements dans la manière dont ces derniers font face au problème de la teigne dans leurs champs et leurs entrepôts. Les agriculteurs n'utilisent plus autant de traitements insecticides dans les champs mais recourent de plus en plus aux techniques culturales a fin d'éviter les pertes dues à ce ravageur. Les nouvelles réglementations et les efforts de vulgarisation poussent les agriculteurs à ne plus recourir aux produits chimiques néfastes pour I'environnement tel que le DDT. Actuellement la recherche se concentre sur la mise au point de l'utilisation des insecticides biologiques ainsi que sur leur adoption par certains agriculteurs.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bacon, O. (1960) Control of the potato tuber worm in potatoes. J. Eton. Entomol. 53, 868871.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ben Salah, H., Fuglie, K., Ben Temime, A., Rahmouni, A. and Cheikh, M. (1993) Developpement d'une strategic de lutte integré contre la teigne de la pomme de terre, Phthorimaea operculelle (Zeller), dans les exploitations agricoles de Tunisie. Ann. Inst. Nat. Rech. Agron. Tunisie.Google Scholar
Delucchi, V. (ed.) (1987) Integrated Pest Management: Quo Vadis? PARASITIS, Geneva, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Delucchi, V. (1989) Integrated pest management vs systems management. In Biological Control: A Sustainable Solution to Crop Pest Problems in Africa (Edited by Yaninek, J. S. and Herren, H. R.), pp. 5167. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria.Google Scholar
CIMMYT Economic Staff (1984) The farming systems perspective and fanner participation in the development of appropriate – technology. In Agricultural Development in the Third World (Edited by Eicher, C. and Staatz, J.), pp. 362377. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.Google Scholar
Essamet, M., von Arx, R., Ewell, P., Goueder, J., Ben Temime, A. and Cheikh, M. (1988) Aspects techniques et économiques des problèmes de la teigne et du stockage de pommes de terre de saison en Tunisie. Ann. Inst. Rech. Agron. Tunisie 61, 150.Google Scholar
Ewell, P., Fano, H., Raman, K. V., Alcazar, J., Palacios, M. and Carhuamaca, J. (1990) Farmer management of potato insect pests in Peru. Food Systems Research Series No. 6, International Potato Center, Apartado 5969, Lima, Peru.Google Scholar
Foot, M. (1974) Cultural practices in relation to infestation of potato crops by the potato tuber moth I. Effect of irrigation and ridge width. N. Z. J. Exp. Agric. 2, 447450.Google Scholar
Foot, M. (1976) Cultural practices in relation to infestation of potato crops by the potato tuber moth II. Effect of seed depth, re-moulding, pre-harvest defoliation, and delayed harvest. N. Z. J. Exp. Agric. 4, 121124.Google Scholar
Fuglie, K. (1991) The demand for potatoes in Tunisia. Working Paper Series No. 1991–6, Social Sciences Department, International Potato Center, Apartado, Lima, Peru.Google Scholar
Grandstaff, S. and Grandstaff, T. (1987) Semi-structured interviewing by multidisciplinary teams in RRA. In Proc. 1985 Int. Conf. on Rapid Rural Appraisal, pp. 129143. Rural Systems Research and Farming Systems Research Projects, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.Google Scholar
Haverkort, A., Azzouz, M. and Fahem, M. (eds.) (1987) Amélioration de la Conservation de la Pomme de Terre en Tunisie. CPRA, Esai'da, Tunisia and CIP, Ariana, Tunisia.Google Scholar
International Potato Center (1980) CIP Annual Report 1980. International Potato Center, Apartado, Lima, Peru.Google Scholar
Judge, G., Hill, R., Griffiths, W., Lutkepohl, H. and Lee, T. (1988) Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Econometrics, 2nd ed.John Wiley & Sons, New York.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raman, K. V. and Alcazar, J. (1988) Biological control of potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), using a granulosis virus in Peru. In Asian Potato Association (APA) Proc, 12–26 June, 1988, pp. 173174. Kunming, China.Google Scholar
Rhodes, R. and Booth, R. (1982) Farmer-back-to-farmer: a model for generating acceptable agricultural technology. Agricultural Administration 11, 127137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roux, O. (1993) Population dynamics of the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller). Ph.D. Thesis, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich.Google Scholar
Shelton, A. and Wyman, J. (1979a) Potato tuberworm damage to potatoes under different irrigation and cultural practices J. Econ. Entomol. 72, 261264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shelton, A. and Wyman, J. (1979b) Time of tuber infestation and relationship between pheromone catches of adult moths, foliar larval populations, and tuber damage by the potato tuberworm. J. Econ. Entomol. 72, 599601.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
von Arx, R., Cheikh, M., Tamo, M. and Goueder, J. (1987a) Résistance variétale contre la teigne de la pomme de terre Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) observeé en Tunisie. In Proc. Int. Conf. EAPR, 27–31 July, pp. 4041. Aalborg, Denmark.Google Scholar
von Arx, R., Goueder, J., Cheikh, M. and Ben Temime, A. (1987b) Integrated control of potato tubermoth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller). Insect Sci. Applic. 8, 989994.Google Scholar
von Arx, R., Ewell, P., Goueder, J., Essamet, M., Cheikh, M. and Ben Temime, A. (1988) Management of the Potato Tuber Moth by Tunisian Farmers: A Report ofOn-farm Monitoring and a Socioeconomic Survey. International Potato Center, Apartado, Lima, Peru.Google Scholar
von Arx, R. and Gebhardt, F. (1990) Effects of a granulosis virus, and Bacillus thuringiensis on life-table parameters of the potato tubermoth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller). Entomophaga 35, 151159.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
von Arx, R., Roux, O. and Baumgàrtner, J. (1990) Tuber infestation by potato tubermoth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), at potato harvest in relation to farmers' practices. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ.CrossRefGoogle Scholar