How farmers manage taro beetle in the perhumid lowlands of Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Taro beetle is a serious pest of taro i Papua New Guinea (PNG). Adult feeding renders corms inedible and feeding cavities facilitate secondary fungal rots, and may cause immature plant death. Although it is a serious pest, little is known about farmers' knowledge of the beetle and its control in PNG. We investigated the level of farmers' knowledge and the approaches engaged to manage the pest, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Almost all the farmers in the three districts of Morobe province are knowledgeable of taro beetle and symptoms of infestations associated with it. Although high proportion (92%) of farmers cultivate taro under rain-fed conditions, only 8% of the farmers have abandoned its cultivation due to previous experiences in recurring infestation by the beetle. Many farmers managed beetle infestation by combining non-chemical means such as cultural and agronomic methods, while only 16% integrated non-chemical methods and insecticides; particularly synthetic pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides. The level of training on pest control affected their present practices in controlling taro beetle. Trainings on the current practices are necessary for sustainable taro production.