Projects per year
Abstract
Over the last decade, the economic sustainability of the cotton industry in Benin has been questioned. Low yield caused by pests and socio-economic problems have been identified as the main problems facing cotton producers, leading to low income. This thesis has addressed the technical and organisational problems of crop protection in the cotton sector in Benin. It has analysed why technical alternatives to farmers' current dependence on purchased synthetic insecticides is necessary if cotton is to remain a worthwhile crop for farmers, and if the cotton sector is to regain the efficiency needed to compete in today's markets. Findings showed a range of alternative methods for controlling economically significant cotton pests, principally by means of the integration of different pest control methods such as the use of botanicals, entomopathogens. and the reduction of the number of sprays and synthetic active ingredients by using action thresholds. The study also demonstrated a methodology for conducting site-specific, ecologically-informed Research for Development (R4D), that created the institutional potential to sustain innovation. The notable features of the methodology were: using a perspective relevant to farmers as the entry point, developing control methods in the context of a multi-stakeholder learning alliance, and altering the boundaries and conditions that affect the space for change.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
Awarding Institution |
|
Supervisors/Advisors |
|
Award date | 20 Oct 2006 |
Place of Publication | [S.l.] |
Print ISBNs | 9789085044321 |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Keywords
- gossypium hirsutum
- cotton
- cotton industry
- insect pests
- plant pests
- integrated pest management
- bacterial insecticides
- botanical insecticides
- sustainability
- research
- diffusion of information
- learning
- benin
- agricultural extension
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Facilitating learning toward sustainable cotton pest management in Benin : the interactive design of research for development'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
-
Convergence of sciences: the management of agricultural research for small-scale farmers in Benin and Ghana
1/01/01 → 1/01/08
Project: Research