Menace of Tomato Leaf Miner (Tuta absoluta [Meyrick,1917]): Its Impacts and Control Measures by Nepalese Farmers

Abstract

A multi-site study was conducted in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Kavre, and Pokhara, Nepal, to assess the impact of Tuta absoluta and identify effective control measures from the farmers' perspective. A total of 480 tomato-growing households were randomly selected for the study. The pest posed a significant threat to tomato production, resulting in increased labor requirements (29.96%), increased expenditures on crop protection and control measures (62.18%), and significant yield losses of up to 85%. The results showed that the pest was ranked as the most important pest of tomatoes by the majority of respondents (88%), with the flowering stage being highly susceptible (99.73%). The study highlighted that the overuse of chemical pesticides disrupts integrated pest management practices, while all the respondents affected by T. absoluta used chemical and cultural control methods without using biological control methods due to a lack of knowledge. About 77.27% of the respondents used physical control methods. Among the control methods used, tomato leaf miner (TLM) bait (0.764) was rated as the most effective, followed by chemical pesticides (0.586) and sanitation (0.502). The research highlights the importance of raising awareness of integrated pest management strategies, including the use of biological control methods, for effective and sustainable management of T. absoluta. These findings will help improve pest management practices and support the long-term sustainability of tomato production in Nepal.

Assessment of Farm-Level Practices of Disease and Pest Management in the Banana Zone of Nawalparasi West district, Nepal

“…Preliminary insights into the field conditions, socio-cultural settings, and demographic and topographic features of the study area were acquired through frequent field visits, as suggested by Ghimire and Chhetri (2023), Ghimire and Rauniyar (2023) and Thapa et al (2024). These visits informed the preparation of interview schedules, design of the sampling framework, and application of sampling techniques, facilitating efficient data collection during the subsequent household survey.…”

Assessment of Productivity, Profit, and Problems Associated with Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Production in West Nawalparasi, Nepal

“…During the FGD, wheat farmers were convened to discuss issues related to productivity, profitability, and challenges associated with wheat farming. A standardized checklist was used to systematically collect information from the targeted farmers and other relevant stakeholders (Ghimire and Chhetri, 2023;Ghimire and Gyawali, 2023). Informal discussions and brief interviews were also conducted with key informants, including model farmers, extension agents, and experienced wheat growers, to gain deeper insights into the local context and various aspects of wheat production.…”

“…In this study, the respondents were classified into seven different educational categories: illiterate, informal education, primary, secondary, SLC graduates, Isc/+2, and Bachelor and above (Ghimire and Chhetri, 2023). The analysis revealed that the largest group consisted of SLC graduates, representing 21% of the respondents.…”