A Logit Analysis of Farmer Knowledge on Rice Blast Disease Pyricularia grisea [Cook, Sacc] at Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kirinyaga County, Central Province, Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya rice is the third most important cereal crop after maize and wheat. However production is constrained by rice blast disease (Pyricularia grisea (Cooke) Sacc). In order to develop viable pest management practices for rice blast disease we need to understand rice farmers’ knowledge of the disease. A study was set up to determine the level of farmer knowledge on rice blast disease. A formal questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 119 farmers at Mwea irrigation scheme on 17-22 February 2011. Farmers were requested to provide information about rice, its importance and rice blast disease. Logit regression model was used to identify factors which influence farmer knowledge of rice blast disease. Logit analysis revealed that age had significant influence on rice blast disease knowledge (p<0.001). Rice cultivation as the sole occupation of household head significantly influenced rice blast knowledge (p<0.001). Rotavating for other farmers (p=0.02), being a casual labourer (p=0.024) agricultural training (p=0.001) and being a man (p=0.001) had significant influence on rice blast knowledge. The implications of this on dissemination of rice blast disease information are discussed in this paper.