The majority of Nepal's population relies on agriculture, so invasive and native pests' ability to reduce farmers' crop yields is a significant concern. To protect farm households' food security and livelihoods, it is imperative to find effective pest management products and practices. Integrated pest management (IPM) is an arguably cheaper and less harmful alternative to conventional synthetic pesticides and is a way of managing and preventing agricultural pests using different levels of control methods (e.g., biological, cultural, and chemical) that have minimal adverse environmental and human health impacts. This study provides information on the extent of IPM practices by Nepali vegetable farmers, adds to the understanding of factors that influence the IPM adoption decision, and compares the economic benefits and performance of IPM to other conventional pest management practices. Our survey of 346 vegetable farmers in four districts throughout Nepal provides the primary data we use in our analysis. We distinguish practices into two categories: simple IPM practices that are commonly used and require limited knowledge and complex practices that typically require more knowledge and conscious use of IPM itself. We use a probit model to determine the factors that significantly affect the decision to adopt complex IPM practices. Our results find two explanatory variables that consistently affect complex IPM adoption: gender and IPM training. We compare the costs and benefits of using IPM to other conventional pest management practices by analyzing results from experimental field trials conducted in Nepal's Banke and Surkhet districts. Using an economic surplus approach, we estimate the market-level benefits of using IPM practices for three vegetables in Banke and four vegetables in Surkhet. The results predict cumulative IPM benefits of $1.06 to $1.44 million across the two districts. / Master of Science / The majority of Nepal's population relies on agriculture, so invasive and native pests' ability to reduce farmers' crop yields is a significant concern. To protect farm households' food security and livelihoods, it is imperative to find effective pest management products and practices. Integrated pest management (IPM) is an arguably cheaper and less harmful alternative to conventional synthetic pesticides and is a way of managing and preventing agricultural pests using different levels of control methods (e.g., crop rotation, weeding, pheromones to disrupt mating) that have minimal adverse environmental and human health impacts. This study provides information on the extent of IPM practices by Nepali vegetable farmers, adds to the understanding of factors that influence the IPM adoption decision, and compares the economic benefits and performance of IPM to conventional synthetic pesticides. Our survey of 346 vegetable farmers in four districts throughout Nepal provides the primary data we use in our analysis. We distinguish practices into two categories: simple IPM practices that are commonly used and require limited knowledge and complex practices that typically require more knowledge and conscious use of IPM itself. Various statistical methods are used and find that gender and IPM training consistently affect the decision to adopt complex IPM practices. Compared to female Nepali vegetable farmers, males are more likely to adopt complex practices. In addition, attending an IPM training event increases the likelihood of farmers using complex IPM practices. We use data from field trials of farmers in Surkhet and Banke, IPM adoption rates from the survey, and information on Nepal's vegetable market to calculate the economic benefits of farmers using complex IPM practices for tomato, cauliflower, onion, and cucumber production. The results predict cumulative IPM benefits of $1.06 to $1.44 million to vegetable consumers and producers across the two districts.

This research was conducted to assess the intersection of gender and pesticide knowledge to identify gendered dynamics that may prove important to consider when implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. Key findings include knowledge being associated with task undertaken, not necessarily the gender of a person. Often, due to social conceptions of appropriate gender roles, similar knowledge may be associated with a certain gender because they are engaging in similar tasks, but it is not their sex or gender that inherently gives them such knowledge. Therefore, knowledge generally associated with women can be associated with men if they are engaging in similar work. Additionally, triangulation of data through using various research methodologies, and interdisciplinary research are imperative for developing comprehensive research or development programs. Finally, even people who are concerned with the negative human and environmental health effects of pesticides may not be using them in a cautious manner. Outside factors such as market sale, education and income level must be taken into account when assessing why pesticides are used and the best methods to introduce an alternative pest control method, such as IPM. / Master of Public and International Affairs

The purpose of this research is to identify gender-based constraints and opportunities to the introduction of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program for tomato crops based on a case study of tomato farmers in the town of Tuobodom in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. The study seeks to identify the knowledge, practices, perceptions, and access to resources of men and women tomato farmers in Tuobodom, specifically with respect to pesticides and pest management. A mixed methods approach combined quantitative and qualitative methodologies including focus group discussions, household interviews, participatory mapping, field visits, key informant interviews, participant observation, and a survey. Key findings in the areas of health and safety, markets and the tomato value chain, and information and training reveal general and gender-specific issues that an IPM program should address when working with farmers to develop an effective and sustainable IPM package for tomato in this area. The results of this study also demonstrate the importance of gender analysis in identifying context-specific gender issues. For example, while this study confirmed that men's roles in tomato production place them at higher risk of exposure to pesticides, results challenge the assumption that women's reproductive roles (e.g., food preparation, caring for the sick, and washing clothes) make them more aware of the risks of pesticides. / Master of Public and International Affairs

In the United States, we have been battling the bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) resurgence for over ten years. Current treatment methods are labor intensive, time consuming, and very expensive. Many studies have evaluated the efficacy of treatment methods, but few have focused on bed bug suppression in multi-unit housing. Low income, multi-unit housing residents lack basic bed bug knowledge and are particulary vulnerable to bed bug infestations because they are unable to afford conventional treatment. In this study, diatomaceous earth (D.E.), an inexpensive desiccant dust labeled for bed bug control, was evaluated for its efficacy in killing bed bugs, and determined to be successful. A proactive bed bug suppression program that included D.E. was implemented in a low-income housing facility in Harrisonburg, VA. The program consisted of inexpensive, low toxicity, integrated bed bug management methods, including a novel strategy for applying a perimeter barrier of D.E. in apartment units (n = 121). Over the course of one year, both the number of initial infestations and the costs associated with bed bug treatments were reduced. Low-income, multi-unit housing residents (n = 479) from three cities (Harrisonburg and Richmond, VA; New Orleans, LA) were surveyed before and after an educational seminar to assess their bed bug. After attending the seminar, residents (n = 112) significantly improved (P < 0.0001) their bed bug knowledge, and were able to correctly answer more bed bug-related questions than they had before the educational seminar. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

This study evaluates the effectiveness and impacts of USAID's IPM IL vegetable technology transfer subproject in Bangladesh. The effectiveness of the technology transfer is evaluated in four ways: IPM adoption rates and determinants of IPM adoption, measuring the impact of IPM adoption on vegetable yields, pest management costs, and the number of pesticide applications used, estimation of the economic impacts of IPM adoption and the technology transfer, and analysis of the relative efficiency of the various technology transfer methods used to transfer the IPM practices to farmers. Adoption determinants were identified using traditional and ordered probit regression analysis. Difference-in-difference models were used to identify the impacts of IPM adoption on yields, pest management costs, and the number of pesticide applications applied. Economic impacts of IPM technology adoption were measured using economic surplus analysis. Finally, to compare the relative efficiency of different technology transfer methods, adoption rates were identified for each transfer method and combined with the training cost per farmer to identify the cost per farmer adopting IPM practices. The results from the adoption analysis suggest the number of years of agricultural experience of the household head, the number of IPM adopters known by the household, and learning agricultural information from media sources and/or farm training events such as field days significantly increase the likelihood of IPM adoption. The impacts of IPM adoption on vegetable yields, pest management costs, and the number of pesticide applications were non-significant for vegetable crops. Analysis of the cost efficiency of the different IPM technology transfer methods suggests that media sources such as television, radio, and newspapers have the lowest cost per farmer. / Master of Science

There is growing interest in learning the impacts of agricultural technologies especially in developing economies. Economic analysis may entail assessment of employment and time allocation effects of new technologies. An issue of importance in South Asia is the impacts of technological change on a specific type of occupation: rural non-farm activities. In order to fully understand these effects, the research must integrate gender differences and determine if the results would be similar irrespective of gender. This paper particularly looks at the effects of HYV adoption on time allocation and labor force participation of men and women in non-farm activities. In estimating the effects of HYV adoption on non-farm labor supply, information on the dependent variable, supply of non-farm labor (or the number of days worked while engaged in non-farm labor), is not available for individuals who do not participate in non-farm labor. Hence sample selection or self-selection of individuals occurs. A feasible approach to the problem of sample selection is the use of Heckman's Two Stage Selection Correction Model. Income functions were estimated for males and females while correcting for the sample selection of non-farm wage earners. An enhanced understanding of the conceptual links among HYV adoption, non-farm labor supply, and gender issues is achieved by discussing the Farm Household Model. The constrained maximization which is drawn from the Farm Household Model would bring about demand functions and reduced form functions for adoption and labor supply. The reduced-form equations are estimated at the individual level for the following: adoption of HYV technology in rice cultivation, and non-farm labor supply of both adult males and females. Regression results are presented for both Ordinary least squares (OLS) and Tobit estimates. HYV adoption and non-farm labor supply of men and women are influenced by several factors in Bangladesh. The household characteristics assumed to potentially determine technology adoption and non-farm labor decisions are the following: non-farm wages per month of the males and females, farm size, asset value, ratio of yield per decimal land of high-yielding to traditional variety of rice, HYV yield, local variety yield, and the ratio of variance of yield per decimal land of HYV to traditional or local varieties. The empirical findings suggest that the decision to adopt HYV technology is determined primarily by farm size, value of total assets of the household, ratio of yield per decimal of land of high-yielding to traditional variety of rice, and the ratio of variance of yield per decimal of land of high-yielding to traditional variety of rice. A larger farm size or land owned in decimal unit increases the non-farm labor supply of females, but not of men. HYV yield is significant and positive, while the local variety yield is significant and negative. This means that higher HYV yields increase the supply of non-farm labor of women, while higher local or traditional yields lower women's supply of non-farm labor. / Master of Science

In the promotion of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as an alternative to pesticides, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Office of International Research and Development (OIRD) at Virginia Tech, and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) supported my research to uncover the socio-economic constraints to IPM adoption and to determine the amount of gendered participation in three rural Jamaica farming communities. The thesis examines the gendered participation in crop production, marketing, and decision making as well as the ability of farmers to identify key pests of three nontraditional agricultural exports: callaloo, "Scotch Bonnet" hot pepper, and sweet potato. While men generally participated to a greater extent in crop production and decision making, women also made a significant contribution. Less female participation is due in part to women owning, renting, or leasing a smaller amount of land. However, decision making about income derived from farming was found to be almost equally split between males and females. Another important finding is that women were able to identify key crop pests. To facilitate the introduction of IPM in the three communities, the small-scale farmers' limited access to irrigation and markets must be addressed. Moreover, the thesis advocates that instead of the singular focus on pest control, the holistic spirit of IPM should be seen as the catalyst for an overall integrated approach to rural farm development. / Master of Science

<p>  </p> <p>     As industrial hemp acreage throughout the United States has grown, there is an increasing need for research-based information towards effective pest management in this crop. A key pest group is insects, which may attack hemp and cause reductions in production and yield. However, knowledge of regional insect communities found on outdoor hemp is still limited. A critical initial step in growing our understanding is to identify potential pests, predatory (beneficial) insects, and likely visiting insects that occur in hemp systems throughout the production season. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted weekly and biweekly visual scouting of outdoor-grown CBD hemp plants over two summer production seasons at three sites in Indiana to characterize the identity and seasonality of potential pest, predatory, and visiting insects observed on plants. </p> <p><br></p> <p>     Across all of our sites, we made 1493 insect observations consisting of 60 taxonomic families across 13 orders. The most common potential pests observed were aphids, whiteflies, and leafhoppers, while the most common predators were long-legged flies, spiders, and hover flies, respectively. Other herbivorous insects such as red-headed flea beetles and tarnished plant bugs were observed feeding on hemp plants. However, many others, such as Japanese beetles and brown marmorated stink bugs, were not. Based on these results, we recommend that hemp growers in our region scout for insects on a twice-weekly basis, beginning at germination or 1 week following transplant.</p> <p><br></p> <p>     These findings will help inform growers about the timing of scouting for insects on outdoor grown CBD hemp, as well as when key potential pests and beneficial insects are likely to be present so management decisions can be focused accordingly. This work further serves as a foundation for future examinations of insect pest management in hemp, including predator-prey interactions that may be leveraged for biological control strategies in indoor production.</p>

<p>  </p> <p>Spotted-wing Drosophila (SWD), <em>Drosophila suzukii</em> (Matsumura), is an economically-important pest of small fruits worldwide. Currently, timing of management is based on morphological identification of adult flies captured in baited monitoring traps; however, distinguishing SWD from other native drosophilids in traps is a time-consuming process that requires magnification. And a degree-day model that could help small fruit growers understand and predict the seasonal activity of this pest has not been developed for Indiana. Due to the low tolerance for maggots in fruit market, most small fruit growers rely on intensive, insecticide applications on a calendar-based schedule without guidance on the activity levels of SWD. </p> <p>A total of 6,051 SWD adults were monitored weekly using commercial Scentry traps at three highbush blueberry orchards during May to August. I applied the published SWD developmental thresholds of 7.2 °C (lower) and 31.5 °C (upper) and the single-sine method to calculate accumulated degree days in the year of 2021 and 2022. A predictive model from two years of data at three locations exhibited an S-shaped curve, with 5%, 25%, and 50% of adults detected at ~907, 1,293, and 1,523 CDD, respectively. By examining infestations in three varieties, ‘Bluecrop’, ‘Blueray’, and ‘Elliot’, I found that blueberry infestation rate increased as the trap captures increased. The use of early-ripening highbush blueberry varieties can reduce infestation and regardless of variety, as berries became softer, the number of SWD egg scars in berries increased.</p> <p>DNA-based diagnostic methods, like loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), have the potential to improve SWD detection by replacing morphological identification with DNA-based identification. Positive results of the LAMP assay are based on a visible color change from pink to yellow when focal DNA is present. I tested the reliability of LAMP results using SWD DNA and then evaluated the sensitivity of LAMP in discriminating between SWD and two native drosophilids common captured in monitoring traps in Indiana, <em>Drosophila affinis</em> and <em>D. simulans</em>. I found the LAMP assay can quickly and accurately identify SWD with as little as 0.1 ng/μl of DNA. Following optimization, the assay also suggested success in discriminating between SWD and these two native species: it only requires an individual fly, DNA extraction is not necessary. </p> <p>By better predicting seasonal SWD activity and optimizing DNA-based diagnostics for this pest, this study can help improve the timely detection of SWD and the management in small fruit systems. </p>

Orientador: Paulo Cesar Ceresini / Resumo: A adoção de cultivares de algodão Bt tem crescido nas últimas décadas devido ao aumento da disponibilidade de materiais com novas combinações de proteínas e a ocorrência de espécies de lepidópteros-pragas de difícil controle, como a Helicoverpa armigera. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar comparativamente a ocorrência de lepidópteros-pragas e pragas não alvo nas três cultivares Bt atualmente plantadas no Brasil: Bollgard II (Cry1Ac + Cry2Ab2), Widestrike (Cry1Ac + Cry1F) e Twinlink (Cry1Ab + Cry2Ae) e na cultivar não Bt FMT701. Para tanto, foram instalados experimento em campo e casa de vegetação. Experimento I: O delineamento empregado foi blocos casualizados com quatro tratamentos e seis repetições. Foram comparadas três cultivares de algodão Bt: Bollgard II, Widestrik e Twinlink e a cultivar não Bt FMT701. Cada parcela constou de 12 linhas com espaçamento de 0,9m com 30 m de comprimento e densidade de dez plantas/m. As avaliações foram realizadas semanalmente registrando-se a ocorrência de pragas, danos em estruturas reprodutivas e desfolha. Experimento II: Foi desenvolvido em casa de vegetação, utilizando-se as mesmas cultivares do Experimento I. Foram realizadas em cada tratamento infestações artificiais com lagartas de segundo instar da espécie H. armigera obtidas da criação em Laboratório. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e dez repetições. Cada parcela foi constituída de uma planta de algodão, cultivado em vaso com volume de dez ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre