Abstract

Potato is an important food commodity and efforts to increase its productivity should focus on addressing production limiting factors. Potato bacterial wilt (PBW) caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the major constraints to potato production in Rwanda and no single method effectively controls the disease. Development of a sustainable management approach requires understanding of PBW distribution, risk factors, farmers' knowledge and management attitudes. Therefore, we surveyed PBW disease and interviewed farmers in eight districts of Rwanda during March-April 2015. We detected PBW in all the surveyed districts and it was ranked as the major potato disease constraint. Among districts, disease incidence and severity varied from 5 to 24% and 3 to 13%, respectively, and was significantly higher in minor compared to major potato growing districts. Low PBW incidence and severity were associated with high altitude and low planting density, intercropping, crop rotation and avoidance of sharing farm tools. In all districts, farmers had little knowledge about PBW detection and spread, and the farmers' awareness of PBW management was often inconsistent with their practices. This incomplete knowledge about PBW was likely caused by inadequate extension services since most information about PBW was acquired from fellow farmers, parents or other relatives. Thus raising awareness of PBW and integrated disease management, including practices that are associated with low PBW, could limit the impact of this disease and help to secure food and income for potato growing farmers in Rwanda.

Keywords

Solanum tuberosum; Ralstonia solanacearum; Potato farming; Awareness; Logistic regression; Potato brown rot

Published in

Food Security
2018, Volume: 10, number: 5, pages: 1221-1235
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Uwamahoro, Florence

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Rwanda

• Berlin, Anna

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bylund, Helena

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Yuen, Jonathan

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network


Sustainable Development Goals

SDG2 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
SDG12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns


UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-018-0834-z

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/96933