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Assessment of economic insect pests of major crops at Borana and West Guji
zones, Southern Ethiopia

Article · September 2023

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 International Journal of Plant Pathology and Microbiology 2023; 3(2): 100-103

E-ISSN: 2789-3073
P-ISSN: 2789-3065
IJPPM 2023; 3(2): 100-103 Assessment of economic insect pests of major crops at
Received: 01-08-2023
Accepted: 05-09-2023 Borana and West Guji zones, Southern Ethiopia
Kemal Kitaba
Oromia Agricultural Research Kemal Kitaba, Rameto Nura, Ejigu Ejara and Gutema Edosa
Institute, Yabello Pastoral and
Dryland Agriculture Research
Center, Yabello, Ethiopia Abstract
The crop insect pest assessment was conducted at two zones of southern Oromia, West Guji and
Rameto Nura Borana Zone from 2020 to 2022 cropping seasons. The assessment was done in two districts of each
Oromia Agricultural Research zone and totally four districts were assessed. The districts were selected purposively based on potential
Institute, Yabello Pastoral and of crop they cultivate. The major crops cultivated at the area were maize, teff and common bean.
Dryland Agriculture Research During, this assessment was done each crop was infested by insects and the pests causes high damage
Center, Yabello, Ethiopia on some field. Insects identified from common bean fields, which leads to high yield loss were
Striacosta albicosta (cutworm), Epilachna varivestis (ladybird beetle) and Maruca vitrata (pod borer).
Ejigu Ejara Cutworm was recorded only from Teltelle, while pod borer was mostly found in all surveyed districts.
Oromia Agricultural Research The Maximum damages percentage of pod borer was observed at Yabello (40%) followed by Teltelle
Institute, Yabello Pastoral and
(36%) whereas minimum damage percentage (27.78%) was detected at Bule Hora. On maize 3 major
Dryland Agriculture Research
Center, Yabello, Ethiopia
insect species, Spodoptera frugiperda (fall army warm), Aphis fabae (black aphids) and Busseola fusca
(stem borer) were detected. Fall army warm was the dominant pest and accounts 50%, 73.7%, and
Gutema Edosa 18.5% damage percentage at Teltelle, Yabello and Abaya districts respectively followed by stem borer.
Oromia Agricultural Research Atherigona hyalinipennis (Shoot fly) was the major pest on tef with infestation levels 23.39%, 19.7%,
Institute, Yabello Pastoral and 30% and 33.64% in Teltelle, Yabello, Bule Hora and Abaya districts respectively.
Dryland Agriculture Research
Center, Yabello, Ethiopia Keywords: Damage, abundance, infestation percentage, common bean, maize, teff

1. Introduction
In raising and balancing the demand and supply of food quality and quantity for the
community needs, protecting the agricultural crops plays a great role [1]. One practical means
of achieving greater yields is to minimize the insect associated losses [2]. Crop production is
one of the major sources of income diversification available to pastoralists and ironically one
of the most important competitors to the pastoralist way of life. According to Mengistu et al.
2020 [3] the major crops grown around Borana and West Guji are tef, maize, common bean
and wheat (exceptional for west Guji zone). In Ethiopia, during 2020/21 production year
major crops such as tef, wheat, maize and red common bean and white common bean were
cultivated over the area 2.93 mil ha, 1.9 mil ha, 2.53 mil ha, 0.21 mil ha, and 0.1 mil ha
respectively. The produce from those areas were 1.882 t/ha, 3.05 t/ha, 4.18 t/ha, 1.796 t/ha,
and 1.76 t/ha respectively. In Borana, maize was cultivated on 6,716.82 ha and yields about
891.2089 t which is 1.33 t/ha. Red common bean is cultivated on 5,447.35 ha and yielded
about 577.16 t with average yield 1.10 t/ha. Similarly, in West Guji maize was cultivated on
over 9,180.49 ha of land and yields about 37880.01 t, with 4.13 t/ha yields, Red common
bean 932.52 t from 5,222.94 ha with 0.18 t/ha [4]. Despite its importance, the productivity of
those major crops was very low compared to the national average yield. The yield losses
caused by biotic pests are altogether responsible for losses ranging between 20 and 40% of
global agricultural productivity [2]. Among biotic factors, insect pests are one of the major
limiting factors to crop production and storage. In Ethiopia, pre harvest yield loss due to
insect pests in cereal and legume crops are estimated around 21-44% and 16-29 respectively
[5]
. The potential areas of Borana and West Guji zones for crop productions include Yabello,
Teltelle, Elweye, Dire, Abaya and Bule Hora districts. The above listed districts have alike
climatic conditions except Bule Hora district. Nowadays, demands for crop production had
already been raised to fill demand for food security. The study by Tache and Sjaastad (2008)
[11]
Correspondence also confirmed that crop cultivation is firmly expanding in the rangelands and tenure.
Kemal Kitaba Though crop production is relatively at initial level in pastoral areas, nowadays the urge for
Oromia Agricultural Research crop production knocks the integrity of every household regardless of the production skill
Institute, Yabello Pastoral and
Dryland Agriculture Research and knowledge [6]. According to Mengistu et al. 2020 [3] about 85%, 65% and 30% of the
Center, Yabello, Ethiopia respondents confirmed that they were producing maize, common bean and teff, respectively.

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Some internal constraints are lack of agricultural inputs and 3. Results and Discussion
land competition. According to respondents, the major 3.1 The major insect pests
factors constraining crop production include lack of rainfall The survey indicates that there were different insect pests on
(The rainfall pattern is highly erratic and rains often do not each assessed crop’s i.e., common bean, maize and teff.
occur at the expected time), presence of different harmful Also, their prevalence was varied from location to location
agricultural pests. Among, the constraints insect pests are based on the crop type and cropping history. On majority of
the major challenging factors of crop production around assessed areas producers use local varieties which may
Borana and West Guji. Therefore, the objective this increase the risk of insect pest damage. Based on the
assessment was to identify the most economic insect pests commodity the species of insects observed on each crop
of major crops and their distribution at Borana and West were different and even within a crop based on infestation
Guji Zones. level, they vary from location to location (Table 1).

2. Materials and Methods 3.2 Types and Infestation of Insects on the Crops
2.1 Description of the study area Among, the identified insect pests on common bean,
The study was conducted at two zones (West Guji and cutworm (Striacosta albicosta), ladybird beetle (Epilachna
Borana) of Oromia regional state, southern Ethiopia. West varivestis) and pod borer (Maruca vitrata) were insects
Guji and Borana zones are located at 463 km and 570 km those have significant role in common bean yield reduction
from Addis Ababa to southern part of Ethiopia respectively. (Table 1). These insect pests have their own abundance and
The climatic conditions of the study area were characterized damage levels on common bean crop on farmers field, as
with hot and short rainy season. Unlike the other districts analyzed data collected during assessment indicated (figure
Bule Hora district, which found in West Guji zone had 1). The population/abundance and damage percentage
different agro-climatic conditions; its topography tends to be caused by those insects on common bean was differ from
mid highland and had a long rainy season than the other district to district and from field to field (Table 1). The
districts. There are two rainy seasons with in a year and the result shows that, Cutworm (Striacosta albicosta) was
main rainy season is ranges from March to May while short recorded only from Teltelle, while pod borer (Maruca
rainy season is from early September to end of October. vitrata) was found in all assessed districts. As the analyzed
data of the assessed field shown, Pod borer (Maruca vitrata)
2.2 Insect Pest Assessment Methods damages common bean with about 36%, 40% and 27.78%
The assessment was conducted in two districts from each infestation level at Teltelle, Bule Hora and Yabello districts
zone and totally at four districts in 2020-2022 production respectively. Sharma et al., [7] also reported the pod borer as
seasons. The assessed districts were Yabello, Teltelle, a major pest of cowpea and pigeon pea, but also damages
Abaya and Bule Hora. The study area of each district was other food legumes. The other major crop cultivated at the
located under an elevation range of 1490-1800 masl, 1356- study area was maize and for this activity about 94 maize
1460 masl, 1422-1460 masl and 1860 to 2328 masl Yabello, fields were assessed across the four districts (Yabello,
Teltelle, Abaya and Bule Hora respectively. The districts Teltelle, Bule Hora and Abaya). On this, crop three major
were selected purposively based on potential of crop they insect pests fall armyworm (FAW), stem borer and aphids
produce. Fields were assessed with the distance of about 3-5 (black) were determined. The damage level caused by these
km apart accordingly i.e., based on the presence of the crop. insect species and their infestation percentage were vary
During assessment GPS map was used, for the purpose of from field to field and district to district.
geographical data such as elevation, latitude and longitude, Among, the insects infest maize crop fall armyworm (FAW)
distance and area of the assessed field. The sampling was (Spodoptera frugiperda) was the dominant and existed all
done at five points (quadrats) in each field and 1 m * 1 m over the surveyed fields of both Borana and West Guji
quadrat was used during the survey to take a sample from zones. Among, the 94 filed of maize assessed about 65
the fields and sampling was done in diagonal pattern (X- fields were infested by fall armyworm (Spodoptera
fashion) in each field. The identified insect in each point frugiperda) pest. Thus, the Fall armyworm damages on
was recorded and separated according to their families maize from the fields, accounts for about 50%, 73.7% and
(groups). The abundance level and damage caused by the 18.5% of maize damage percentage in Teltelle, Yabello and
identified insect pest was recorded from each quadrat. When Abaya districts respectively (Table 1). The analyzed data
the assessment was done maize and teff crops were at the shows, the highest infestation level on maize was occurred
stage of flowering, while common bean was at the stage of by fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) over the other
pod setting. Questionary was developed to collect additional insect pests. The maximum infestation percentage of fall
data from the farmers. The infestation percentage of the armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) on maize was observed
insects on the crop was recorded specifically for each crop at Yabello district (73.7%) followed by Teltelle (50%),
as well as infesting insects. The insect species and their while low infestation was recorded at Bule Hora district
infestation level were recorded from all the surveyed (18.3%). The infestation level of stem borer (Busseola
districts for each crop. The major crops produced at the fusca) in maize fields ranged from 10.5% to 53.7% in
study areas include maize, common bean and teff. surveyed districts. Rajin et al. 2000 [8] also reported the
Percentage infestation level and damage were calculated infestation of maize stem borer could extend up to 60%,
using the formula. which is in range with this survey results. Aphids’
infestation in maize field was less compared to another
2.3 Data Analysis insect pest at all assessed district.
All collected data were feed into computer and managed by Among, the major crops cultivated at Borana and West Guji
using Excel and lastly the data was analyzed using IBM zones teff is one of the most widely cultivated crops and it
SPSS Statistics 20. takes a significant position in using by the communities.

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International Journal of Plant Pathology and Microbiology https://www.plantpathologyjournal.com/

During, the assessment for determination of the most hyalinipennis) was 23.39%, 25.01%, 30% and 33.64% at
economic insects that attack teff at field, about 89 teff fields Teltelle, Yabello, Bule Hora and Abaya districts
were assessed from both Borana and West Guji zones. Then, respectively. The infestation of shootfly (Atherigona
the assessment result expresses the major insect pest that hyalinipennis) on the teff crop with up to 42.0% infestation
attacks teff at the study was shootfly (Atherigona level at the age of panicle initiation and infestation could
hyalinipennis) and it was recorded in 76 fields among the 89 extend up to 100% in severe cases [9, 10].
fields assessed. The infestation level of shootfly (Atherigona

Table 1: Identified insect pests for three major crops maize, common bean and teff with their abundance percentage across four districts
Districts Crop Identified insect name Damage Average (%) Abundance %
Teltelle Common bean Cutworm 51.67 25
Pod borers 36 41.67
Ladybird beetle 37.14 29.17
Maize Fall armyworm (FAW) 50 38.33
Stem borers 27.7 28.89
Aphids 15.4 33.33
Teff Shoofly 23.39 21.45
Yabello Common bean Pod borers 40 79.41
Ladybird beetle 13.33 17.65
Maize Fall armyworm (FAW) 73.7 30.49
Stem borers 53.8 30.36
Aphids 50 40
Teff Shoofly 25.01 22.93
Bule Hora Common bean pod borers 27.78 46.3
Teff Shoofly 30 27.51
Abaya Maize Fall armyworm (FAW) 18.5 27.5
Stem borers 10.5 25
Teff Shoofly 33.64 30.84

Fig 1: Insects recorded from common bean and their damage level
with infestation percentage in districts
Fig 3: Number of infected Teff fields with Shoofly and damage
percentage at four districts of the study area

4. Conclusion and Recommendations

The crop cultivation at the study area shows increasing in
high level from time to time and the crop mostly cultivated
at the area were maize, common bean, and teff. Though,
agricultural pests are the major constraining factors for crop
production at Borana and West Guji zones. The insect pests
are the key in limiting the crop production and productivity
and it needs high attention to overcome the destructions
occur with insects on the cultivated crop at field. Among,
the insect pests affecting each cultivated at field condition
Pod borer and cut worm on common bean, fall armyworm
on maize and shoot fly on teff were the major insect pests
causes high damage on each crop. Therefore, the producers
should use different management methods such as crop
rotations, field sanitation, and as a last option applying
Fig 2: Major insects identified on maize with their abundance insecticides developed/formulated for respective insect
percentage

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International Journal of Plant Pathology and Microbiology https://www.plantpathologyjournal.com/

species at a right time. In the future, efforts should be made

towards the integration of multiple control options like
development of resistant varieties, development of improved
agronomic practices, awareness creation among farmers and
experts’ right from site selection till post-harvest handling
of various insect and their management.

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