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Assessment of Production Constraints, Crop and Pest Management Practices in Peri-Urban Vegetable Farms of Botswana

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Last updated: 03 Jan 2025

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Abstract

Enhancing the environmental soundness of agricultural practices, particularly in high input systems, is of increasing concern to those involved in crop production, agricultural research and development. This study assessed farmers' assets, production constraints, and farm and pest management practices of peri-urban vegetable farmers in Botswana. The study was meant to provide basic information that could be used to advice farmers, researchers and agricultural extension agents to improve the production of vegetable farming in the country. A random sampling procedure was used to select and survey 48 vegetable farmers across the country. The survey was carried out using a structured questionnaire. The study established that peri-urban vegetable farming is a male dominated business with more than 75% of the farmers at their prime age and with a good educational back ground (>52% received at least secondary school education). Water stress, pests, market and labour were among the major production constraints that the interviewed peri-urban vegetable farmers were facing. Vegetable production in the peri-urban areas of the country was intensive and pest management relied completely on the use of pesticides. Vegetable production ranked as the sole source of income for 50% of the interviewed farmers and one of the three main sources of income for farmers interviewed. It was also noted that majority (>54%) of the vegetable farms are managed by employed farm managers with little supervision from the owners. Although vegetable farming in Botswana is improving the living standard of farmers, there is need to encourage participation of females in the activity, improve the supply of inputs and reduce the overdependence on synthetic chemicals through development of integrated pest management strategies.

DOI

10.21608/eajbsh.2010.17011

Keywords

: Botswana, Peri-urban, Pest management, Production constraints, Water-stress

Authors

First Name

Madisa

Last Name

E.

MiddleName

M.

Affiliation

Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana

Email

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City

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Orcid

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First Name

Assefa

Last Name

Y.

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Obopile

Last Name

M.

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

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Volume

1

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

3599

Issue Date

2010-12-01

Receive Date

2018-10-20

Publish Date

2010-12-01

Page Start

1

Page End

11

Print ISSN

2090-3812

Online ISSN

2090-3820

Link

https://eajbsh.journals.ekb.eg/article_17011.html

Detail API

https://eajbsh.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=17011

Order

1

Type

Original Article

Type Code

693

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, H. Botany

Publication Link

https://eajbsh.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Assessment of Production Constraints, Crop and Pest Management Practices in Peri-Urban Vegetable Farms of Botswana

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023