Seasonal Diversity and Abundance of Insect Pollinators as Influenced by Farming Practices in Cowpea and Cucumber Cropping Systems in Kikome, Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.): Fabaceae) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus (L.); Cucurbitaceae) are crops of economic importance in Kenya. They are mainly grown by small scale farmers in the arable areas of Makueni County. Despite the economic importance of these crops, insufficient pollination is one of the major constraints in their production. This has contributed to low crop yield, hunger, malnutrition and elevated levels of poverty in the region. Makueni County is characterized by high temperatures that favor growth and multiplication of pests causing yield losses through their damage on the crops. This has compelled farmers to indiscriminately use chemical pesticides to control pests which are problematic during the cropping cycle. Chemical pesticides present toxic effects on insect pollinators reducing their foraging activities and leads to reduced crop yield and quality. There is scanty information on the common pesticides that farmers use and the various application practices that they apply during various cropping stages in Kikome village, Makueni County. In addition, no information has been documented on the insect pollinators and their impact on the yield and quality of cowpea and cu cumber in the region. Therefore, the main aim of the present work was to assess the extent of pesticide use and application practices and seasonal variation of insect pollinators in Kikome village, Makueni Kenya. Field surveys were conducted in 2017 among small holder horticulture farmers in Kikome village, located in Makueni County using an open and close ended questionnaire administered by face to face interviews with farmers. A survey involving 53 respondents, selected by purposive sampling, was carried out to assess pesticide use and application practices. Open ended questionnaires were administered through face to face interviews with the respondents. All the respondents interviewed during the study were using chemical pesticides as the sole method of pest management. Among various chemical compounds of pesticides used by farmers, pyrethroids (87 %), neonicotinoids (69.6 %), and carbamates (63 %) were the most frequently used. Farmers used pesticides more frequently at flowering stage (44 %) relative to other phenological stages. Most of the respondents (69.2 %) had no access to extension