Farmers' Perception of Midge Impact on Sorghum Grains Production in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Sorghum midge, Stenodiplosis sorghicola (Coquillet, 1898) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is one of the most damaging insect pests, significantly reducing the crop yield worldwide. The present study was carried out to improve understanding of farmers' perceptions of sorghum midge and the traditional methods used to control it. Surveys were carried out in seven regions, including ten provinces of Burkina Faso. These surveys were carried out using scorecards on the incidence of the insect and other agricultural aspects during October and November 2023. The results show that most growers are illiterate and mostly use local varieties for sorghum production. Only 6% of surveyed growers could identify the insect and recognize its damage to sorghum crops. Among them, just 3% implemented any control measure. Similarly, the survey revealed that all the localities visited were infested by the midge. These results represent an important step towards managing sorghum midge populations and improving production, especially in areas with high levels of infestation.