Abstract:
The main objective of this study was to analyze the gap between the recommended
pesticides spray programmes and the actual farmers’ practices in the production of tomato
and African eggplant among farmers in Mvomero District, Morogoro Region, Tanzania.
The specific objectives were to: (i) Identify the pesticide use recommendations for tomato
and African eggplant production (ii) assess the level of farmers awareness on
recommended pesticide spray programmes (iii) compare the recommended and actual
farmers pesticide spray practice and (iv) find out the factors for farmers abidance by the
recommended practices. Cross sectional research design was applied. Data were collected
using a questionnaire for farmers and a checklist of questions for the key informants. The
region, district and villages were selected purposively while the respondents, 120 in total,
were randomly selected among the tomato and African eggplant producers. Data collected
were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) for quantitative data
and content analysis for qualitative data. Findings from this study show that the
recommended pesticides spray programmes comprise of; timing of application, pesticides
spray frequency, equipment used and application rates. For a farmer to make sound
decision on the application of these programmes they have to do scouting regularly in their
farms. Although all farmers had a certain level of awareness on the recommended spray
programmes; it was only 45.5% of the respondents who abode by them. The factors which
influenced farmer’s abidance by the recommendations included level of education, access
to agricultural extension services and income. For farmers to abide by the recommended
pesticides spray programmes and at the same time decrease misuse of pesticides;
extension services have to be improved especially those which promote farmer to farmer
learning.
