A Survey of Tomato Farmers and their Knowledge on Fruit Borers (Helicoverpa Armigera Mill) in Kumawu of Sekyere Kumawu and Agogo of Asante Akim North Districts in Ghana

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is a popular and important crop as it is consumed worldwide. It serves as a source of nutrients such as vitamins A and C. In Ghana, tomato production contributes to agricultural GDP, employment creation and foreign exchange earnings. However, tomato production is faced with challenges that hamper productivity. This has been attributed mainly to attacks by pests such as fruit borers. Therefore, this study was conducted to ascertain the characteristics of tomato farmers in Sekyere Kumawu and Asante Akim North districts in Ghana and their knowledge on fruit borers. Structured questionnaires were administered to gather data from sixty respondents who were sampled through a multistage sampling technique. Results from the survey showed male dominance in commercial tomato production in both districts with an average age of 43 years, which falls within the active working age group. Majority of the farmers indicated that they were into tomato production for commercial purposes, and practice sole cropping. More than 60% of the farmers revealed the fruit borer as a major pest causing yield losses of about 27% on average on their farms. Moreover, it was found that majority of the respondents control the fruit borer with synthetic chemicals.