Farmers’ Knowledge on Whitefly Populousness among Tomato Insect Pests and Their Management Options in Tomato in Tanzania

Abstract

Whitefly is a populous insect pest among tomato insect pests, causing significant crop loss through direct and indirect attacks. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge of tomato farmers on the populousness of whiteflies compared to other tomato insect pests and explore the management options available in their farming context in three tomato-growing regions, Arusha, Morogoro, and Iringa, in Tanzania. The study used a questionnaire to collect the data with backup information obtained through key informants’ interviews and focus group discussions. The study findings indicated whitefly to be populous among tomato insect pests. However, tomato farmers showed varying knowledge of whitefly aspects, including differing control options for the pest. Such findings indicated a knowledge gap between farmers’ understandings of the pest and their practices in fighting it compared to the standard and required practices in controlling the pest.