Species Composition and Status of Stored Sorghum Pests in Traditional Farmer’s Storages of Kena District of Koso Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Aim: To determine the species composition and status pests of stored sorghum under traditional storages of farmers in Kenna district of Konso Zone of Southern Ethiopia. Study Design: From peasant association, about three sub-localities were randomly selected and from each sub-locality, three villages were selected at random with using a nested design. Place and Duration of Study: Survey was conducted between 1, August to 27, December 2019 in four major sorghum growing peasant association of Kenna district of Southern Ethiopia. Methodology: The study on determination of the species composition and status pests of stored sorghum was made from of half kilogram of wheat grain sample taken from 720 stores of randomly selected representative farmer’s storages of four peasant associations using key of books related to stored product insects. Results: Fifteen arthropods species consisting of twelve primary and secondary pests and three natural enemies belonging to four insect orders with in nine families were recorded. Of which, nine species such as S. zeamais, S. oryzae, S. cerealella, T. castaneum, T. confusum, C. ferrugineus,    C. pusillus, R. dominica and P. interpunctella, respectively were found to be the most abundant as they appeared between 3.47 and 19.44 individuals per 100 g of sampled grains. They were also found to be the most frequently occurring as they occurred in the range between 63.89 and 94.44% per 100 g of sample grain collected from survey site and had major pest status. Conclusion: The traditional methods and practices used by farmers were inefficient for providing adequate protection of their stored sorghum grain pests. Therefore, there is urgent need for designing effective management strategies against insect pest’s sorghum as well as improving the existing farmer’s traditional storage strictures in the survey site in order to reduce the loss of stored sorghum by insect pests and the associated food insecurity.