Farmers perceptions of lepidoptera stem borers and control methods in irrigated rice in Burkina faso: the case of the Bama and Karfiguela schemes

In Burkina Faso, damage caused by Lepidoptera stem borers is a threat to rice production. This study aims at assessing farmers' perceptions of these insect pests to improve our understanding of their management. Thus, a semi-structured survey was submitted from September to November 2022 to 436 rice farmers in the irrigated schemes of Bama and Karfiguéla in western Burkina Faso. Results showed that 59.25% of rice farmers had a good knowledge of rice Lepidoptera stem borers, their associated damage and the vulnerable phenological stages of the rice plant to these insect pests. Farmers reported considerable yield losses (average of 33.33%) to these insect pests. In both Bama (64.96%) and Karfiguéla (59.25%), chemical control using mainly deltamethrin was the most important method of managing these pests. Respondents revealed the existence of a diversity of natural enemies associated with rice insect pests. These beneficials were dominated by arachnids. In view of these results, training rice farmers in biological and cultural control methods would be a major asset in the implementation of a sustainable integrated insect management strategy.