Adoption of Integrated Pest Management in Ghanaian Tomato Agriculture: What Are the Key Determinants?

E.K. Tham-Agyekum; L.A. Onumah; S.K. Clottey; F. Yentetah; H. Yeboah; P. Asiedu; J.A. Bakang; W. Mensah

doi:10.17159/2413-3221/2025/v53n3a17758

Authors

E.K. Tham-Agyekum KNUST https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1657-1409
L.A. Onumah KNUST
S.K. Clottey KNUST
F. Yentetah KNUST
H. Yeboah KNUST
P. Asiedu University of Passau https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1439-2415
J.A. Bakang KNUST https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4980-075X
W. Mensah KNUST https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5694-6127

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2025/v53n3a17758

Keywords:

Integrated Pest Management, Adoption, Determinants, Tomato

Abstract

Integrated pest management (IPM) offers an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest control, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. However, its adoption among tomato farmers has been slow, with excessive chemical pesticides causing resistance, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss. This study examines the factors influencing IPM adoption among tomato farmers in Offinso North, Ghana. Data were collected from 388 farmers using a structured questionnaire. Results indicated that access to extension services, farming experience, the number of workers, and years of formal education significantly influenced the adoption of various IPM methods. Access to extension services was critical across all methods, while farming experience and the number of workers were key for cultural and mechanical practices. Education enhanced the adoption of mechanical techniques. These findings highlight the importance of targeted training programs and access to resources to improve IPM knowledge and adoption among farmers. Policymakers should focus on farmer education and extension services to enhance sustainable pest management by providing technical support, facilitating access to IPM inputs such as organic fertilisers and biological control agents, and guidance in implementation. Other interventions may include enhancing farmer groups' access to low-interest finance or credit facilities.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

BISANDA, S., MWANGI, W.M., VERKUIJL, H., MOSHI, A.J. & ANANDAJAYASEKERAM, P., 1998. Adoption of maize production technologies in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Mexico: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.

DAMALAS, C.A. & ELEFTHEROHORINOS, I.G., 2011. Pesticide exposure, safety issues, and risk assessment indicators. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health., 8(5): 1402-1419. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph8051402

DARA, S.K., 2019. The new integrated pest management paradigm for the modern age. J. Integr. Pest Manag., 10(1): 12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmz010

DREISTADT, S.H., 2001. Integrated pest management for floriculture and nurseries (Vol. 3402). University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

DREISTADT, S.H., 2016. Pests of landscape trees and shrubs: an integrated pest management guide (Vol. 3359). UCANR Publications.

FLINT, M.L. & DREISTADT, S.H., 1998. Natural enemies handbook: The illustrated guide to biological pest control (Vol. 3386). University of California Press.

GERSZBERG, A., HNATUSZKO-KONKA, K., KOWALCZYK, T. & KONONOWICZ, A.K., 2015. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in the service of biotechnology. Plant Cell Tiss Org., 120: 881-902. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-014-0664-4

GOTT, R.C. & COYLE, D.R., 2019. Educated and engaged communicators are critical to successful integrated pest management adoption. J. Integr. Pest Manag., 10(1): 35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmz033

KABIR, M.H. & RAINIS, R., 2015. Adoption and intensity of integrated pest management (IPM) vegetable farming in Bangladesh: An approach to sustainable agricultural development. Environ. Dev. Sustain., 17: 1413-1429. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-014-9613-y

GREEN, K., STENBERG, J. A. & LANKINEN, Å., 2020. Making sense of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the light of evolution. Evol. Appl., 13(8): 1791-1805. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13067

KELLEY, W.T., BOYHAN, G.E., HARRISON, K.A., SUMNER, P.E., LANGSTON, D.B., SPARKS, A.N., ET AL., 2010. Commercial tomato production handbook. University of Georgia, Extension.

KUMAR, V., KULAR, J.S., KUMAR, R., SIDHU, S.S. & CHHUNEJA, P. K., 2020. Integrated whitefly [Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)] management in Bt-cotton in North India. Curr. Sci., 119(4): 618-624. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v119/i4/618-624

KUWORNU, J.K., ODURO, E., AMEGASHIE, D.P., FENING, K.O., YANGYOURU, M., MACCARTHY, D.S., ET AL., 2018. Cost-benefit analysis of conventional and integrated crop management for vegetable production. Int. J. Veg. Sci., 24(6): 597-611. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19315260.2018.1457585

MBATA, J.N., 2001. Determinants of animal traction adoption in traditional agriculture: An application of the multivariate probit procedure to the case of Lesotho. Dev. South. Afr., 18(3): 309-325. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03768350120069983

NTOW, T.K., WONGNAA, C.A., NYADU-ADDO, R., ADDISON, M., AWUNYO-VITOR, D. & ABOKYI, E., 2023. Effects of entrepreneurial behaviour on market outlets choice: Evidence from rice producers in Ashanti region, Ghana. Sustain. Technol. Entrep., 2(2): 100037. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stae.2023.100037

QUINET, M., ANGOSTO, T., YUSTE-LISBONA, F.J., BLANCHARD-GROS, R., BIGOT, S., MARTINEZ, J.P. & LUTTS, S., 2019. Tomato fruit development and metabolism. Front. Plant Sci., 10: 1554. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01554

ROBINSON, M.D., MCCARTHY, D.J. & SMYTH, G.K., 2010. edgeR: A Bioconductor package for differential expression analysis of digital gene expression data. Bioinformatics., 26(1): 139-140. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/btp616

YAMANE, Y., 1967. Mathematical formulae for sample size determination. J. Mathemetics., 1: 1-29.

FEDER, G., JUST, R.E. & ZILBERMAN, D., 1985. Adoption of agricultural innovations in developing countries: A survey. Econ. Dev. Cult. Change., 33(2): 255-298. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/451461

THOMAS, J.K., LADEWIG, H. & MCINTOSH, W.A., 1990. The adoption of Integrated Pest Management practices among Texas cotton growers. Rural Sociol., 55(3): 395-410. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1549-0831.1990.tb00690.x

CROSS JR, W.E., 1995. The psychology of nigrescence: Revising the Cross model. In J.G. Ponterotto, J.M. Casas, L.A. Suzuki & C.M. Alexander (eds.), Handbook of multicultural counselling. Sage Publications, pp. 93-122.

ISHAM, J., 2002. The effect of social capital on fertilizer adoption: Evidence from rural Tanzania. J. Afr. Econ., 11(1): 39-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jae/11.1.39

SAMIEE, A., REZVANFAR, A. & FAHAM, E., 2009. Factors influencing the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) by wheat growers in Varamin County, Iran. Afr. J. Agric. Res., 4(5): 491-497.

RAI, M. & INGLE, A., 2012. Role of nanotechnology in agriculture with special reference to management of insect pests. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 94: 287-293. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-3969-4

UWAGBOE, E.O., MELUDU, N.T. & AGBEBAKU, E.E.O., 2016. Adoption of integrated pest management among cocoa farmers in Cross River and Osun States of Nigeria. J. Agric. Ext., 20(2): 188-201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/jae.v20i2.14

HASAN, S.M., 2017. Factors affecting integrated pest management adoption and pesticide use in Kenyan vegetable farmers. Doctoral dissertation, Virginia Tech.

OWUSU, V. & ABDULAI, A., 2019. Examining the economic impacts of integrated pest management among vegetable farmers in Southern Ghana. J. Environ. Plan. Mang., 62(11): 1886-1907. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2018.1517085

REZAEI, R., SAFA, L. & GANJKHANLOO, M.M., 2020. Understanding farmers’ ecological conservation behavior regarding the use of integrated pest management-an application of the technology acceptance model. Glob. Ecol. Conserv., 22: e00941. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00941

POUDEL, S. & DHAKAL, A., 2020. Integrated pest management (IPM) and its application in rice–a review. Rev. Food. Agric., 1(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.26480/rfna.02.2020.54.58

RIAZ, S., JOHNSON, J.B., AHMAD, M., FITT, G.P. & NAIKER, M., 2021. A review on biological interactions and management of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J. Appl. Entomol., 145(6): 467-498. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.12880