Towards a Collaborative Research: A Case Study on Linking Science to Farmers’ Perceptions and Knowledge on Arabica Coffee Pests and Diseases and Its Management

Abstract

The scientific community has recognized the importance of integrating farmer’s perceptions and knowledge (FPK) for the development of sustainable pest and disease management strategies. However, the knowledge gap between indigenous and scientific knowledge still contributes to misidentification of plant health constraints and poor adoption of management solutions. This is particularly the case in the context of smallholder farming in developing countries. In this paper, we present a case study on coffee production in Uganda, a sector depending mostly on smallholder farming facing a simultaneous and increasing number of socio-ecological pressures. The objectives of this study were (i) to examine and relate FPK on Arabica Coffee Pests and Diseases (CPaD) to altitude and the vegetation structure of the production systems; (ii) to contrast results with perceptions from experts and (iii) to compare results with field observations, in order to identify constraints for improving the information flow between scientists and farmers. Data were acquired by means of interviews and workshops. One hundred and fifty farmer households managing coffee either at sun exposure, under shade trees or inter-cropped with bananas and spread across an altitudinal gradient were selected. Field sampling of the two most important CPaD was conducted on a subset of 34 plots. The study revealed the following findings: (i) Perceptions on CPaD with respect to their distribution across altitudes and perceived impact are partially concordant among farmers, experts and field observations (ii) There are discrepancies among farmers and experts regarding management practices and the development of CPaD issues of the previous years. (iii) Field observations comparing CPaD in different altitudes and production systems indicate ambiguity of the role of shade trees. According to the locality-specific variability in CPaD pressure as well as in FPK, the importance of developing spatially variable and relevant CPaD control practices is proposed.

Local tree knowledge can fast-track agroforestry recommendations for coffee smallholders along a climate gradient in Mount Elgon, Uganda

“…This analysis showed that only two significantly different groups of ranking estimates were identified for both WCSB and CLR, whereby Cordia africana, A. coriaria, and Ficus mucuso represented the first group (labelled as 'high'), and all the others species were found in the second group (labelled as 'medium'). This means that except for these three highest ranked species, there was no consensus in the rankings of the other species for these two locally important P&D and confirms that local knowledge about specific companion tree species and their relationships to coffee P&D dynamics is scarce as explained by Liebig et al (2016). Cordia africana was exceptionally well ranked for all altitudes and ES (except food) and was followed by the four Ficus species and A. coriaria.…”

“…The selected farmers are situated within an area of 210 km 2 ( Fig. 1 (Liebig et al 2016)). The mean annual rainfall in the study area ranges from 1200 to 1400 and 1800 mm and the mean annual temperatures are 23, 21 and 18°C, at respectively low, mid and high altitudes (Hijmans et al 2005).…”

“…only food-providing trees for the ES 'food'). The focus on WCSB and CLR is based on the fact that they are the most important P&D problems for the present coffee systems over all three altitude zones in Mount Elgon (Liebig et al 2016).…”

“…In ranking Fig. 1 Location of the study area within Uganda, Mount Elgon area (top left), districts of study area (Bulambuli, Kapchorwa) (top right), and study site with indication of three altitude zones (determined by means of cluster analysis) and sample plots (Liebig et al 2016) however, items are scored relative to the other items, hence their scores have no meaning out of the context. Ranking is therefore a subjective evaluation that is useful in pair-wise comparisons.…”

Parasitism of Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in different farming systems and altitudes of Mount Elgon, Uganda

“…The Mt. Elgon region has Arabica Coffee farmlands with varying cropping intensities, and semi-natural vegetation that exists in mosaical patterns under variable habitat management approaches within different altitudes (Karungi et al, 2018;Liebig et al, 2016). There are reports of response of specific insect herbivores and generalist predators to cropping complexities in the region (Jonsson et al, 2014;Karungi et al, 2018Karungi et al, , 2015.…”