FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF RICE BLAST IN BURKINA FASO

Rice blast is a fungal disease that causes enormous production losses. This study aimed to determine the socio-agronomic characteristics and management practices of rice blast on rice farms in Burkina Faso. An individual survey was carried out in 2021 on a sample of 180 rice farmers spread over four major production sites, namely the Sourou valley, the Kou valley, the Bagré plain and the Karfiguéla plain. The sites were selected according to the presence of rice blast and the importance of paddy rice production, while the farmers were selected according to their experience of at least three years in production. The results indicated a very high level of illiteracy among farmers (> 50%), with low participation of women with a mean rate of 9,25% in rice production, depending on the site. Cultivation practices were characterized by high use of organic manure (> 1500 Kg/ha) and mineral manure (> 400 Kg). The majority of farmers used resistant varieties (65,67% to 70,67%), chemical pesticides (60% - 86%) and organic manure (51,11% - 81,11%) to control rice blast. Very few farmers (0,87% - 2,87%) used biopesticides as a means of control. In view of these results, it is essential to raise farmers' awareness of the need to use biopesticides, with the support of research structures.