Returns to research and outreach for integrated pest management of western flower thrips infesting French bean and tomato in Kenya

Abstract

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) has developed a strategy for control of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, which is a major invasive pest that causes extensive yield losses in French bean and tomato in Kenya. Farmers apply pesticides to manage thrips, which causes increased environmental risks, production costs, pesticide resistance, and is also the basis for rejection of French bean and tomato exports in lucrative export markets (due to non-compliance to maximum pesticide residue levels). This article describes the results of a study conducted to estimate the effectiveness of a strategy for control of western flower thrips developed at icipe, before dissemination of the technology in Kenya. The investigators used the economic surplus approach—which assesses the value of research—and found that icipe’s integrated thrips management strategy is a sustainable and efficient alternative to help minimise widespread use of pesticides in tomato and French bean production in Kenya. This is an output from the ‘Implementation of Integrated Thrips and Tospovirus Management Strategies in Smallholder Vegetable Cropping Systems of Eastern Africa’ Project. is partly funded by the UK Department for International Development, a core donor of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology