https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2838-5275
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Abstract
The intention of farmers to adopt integrated pest management (IPM) for the control of fall armyworm (FAW) in the Upper East region of Ghana was studied using an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), with past behaviour as an additional construct to the original model. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 266 respondents using the multi-stage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, measures of central tendencies, and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were used to analyze the data. Intention had the highest mean (mean = 4.18), while, past behaviour had the lowest mean (mean = 3.16). The PLS-SEM revealed that attitude was the only significant predictor of farmers’ intention to use IPM for FAW control, accounting for 30% of the variance in farmers’ intention. Past behaviour of farmers in IPM use did not affect their intention to adopt IPM for FAW control. Accordingly, IPM training for farmers by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture must integrate method and results demonstration extension strategies that will inspire positive attitudes and enthusiasm in using IPM to manage FAW.
Acknowledgement
We wish to acknowledge all the farmers who participated in this study by providing data for analysing their intention to adopt IPM for FAW control. Special mention is also made of the Agricultural Extension Agents who supported the data collection exercise for the study.
Author contributions
Conceptualization: IKA, EWI, and JKO; Methodology: IKA, EWI, and JKO, Investigation: IKA, EWI, JKO, EK, GS, and FTO; formal analysis: IKA, EWI, and JKO; writing-original draft presentation: IKA, EWI, and JKO; writing-review and editing: IKA, EWI, JKO, and EK, GS, FTO.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in the Mendeley Data and Digital Commons Data at http://doi.org/10.17632/r2g9sfm78s.2 reference number [2].
Study questionnaire
Farmers’ questionnaire on their intention to use Integrated Pest Management for FAW control in Maize Production
District Name ………………………………….
Community Name…………………….…………
Personal Information
Sex: Male [] Female []
Age as at last birthday: ………………………. years
Years of farming experience ……………….years
Level of Education:
No formal education [] Primary [] JSS/JHS [] SSS/SHS [] Tertiary []
Number of years of formal education: ___________ years
Contact with Extension? YES [] NO []
Number of extension training attended in the last one years? ………………
Marital Status: Married [] Single [] Widow [] Divorced []
Farm size cultivated to Maize in 2020 ……………………. Acres
What is the total number of bags (100kg) of Maize you harvested from the 2020 cropping season? …………………. bags
Are you aware (Seen or Heard) of the Fall Army Worm (FAW) in your farm?
Yes [] No []
What control method do you use to control the FAW?
Agro Chemicals [] Early planting [] Cocktail of Mixtures []
Neem extract [] Attract Ants/Wasp/Flies to farm [] Hand picking and Crushing [] Integrated Pest Management (IPM) []
Are you Aware of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) control of FAW? Yes [] No []
Which of the following principles of IPM are you aware of and which do you use?
Have you received any training on the use IPM for contol of FAW?
Yes [] No []
Which institution provided the Training?
MoFA/AEAs [] NGOs [] Research Institutions like SARI [] Universities []
In your opinion to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements on intention to use Integrated Pest Management for control of FAW in Maize production. Rate your agreement on a 5-point scale of 1 = Very Low Agreement to 5 Very High Agreement.