Assessing the knowledge of farmers in managing finger millet blast disease for sustainable agriculture and food security

Finger millet is an essential food source for millions across Africa and Asia, yet it remains underutilized. The most significant threat to its production is blast disease, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe grisea, which results in substantial yield losses. In Ethiopia, many farmers depend on their seeds and do not implement management practices due to a lack of knowledge and limited access to effective management techniques. This study was conducted from August to November 2022 to assess farmers’ awareness and practices related to finger millet blast disease in Northwestern Amhara, Ethiopia. A semi-structured questionnaire was employed to assess farmers’ knowledge and perception about finger millet blast disease and the management practices. Data collected from four districts revealed that farmers had been noticing disease symptoms for the last 9 years, with the peak severity in between August and October. Approximately 46.8% were unaware of the disease’s cause and mode of transmission, while 33.2% associated it with susceptible varieties. Management strategies reported included burning crop residues (39.3%), decreasing nitrogen fertilizer use (11.6%), and applying fungicides (0.4%). Barriers to effective disease management included lack of knowledge (46.88%), low perceived disease harm (20.7%), and absence of effective control strategies (12.9%). This research highlights blast disease as a significant challenge to finger millet cultivation and stresses the importance of training farmers to improve their pest identification skills and implement effective management approaches. Blast disease was prevalent in all surveyed areas, resulting in considerable losses in yield and causing food insecurity. About 46.88% of participants were unaware of the causes and transmission methods of finger millet blast disease. Farmers need to be given specific training on identifying diseases, preventative measures, and effective management practices.