Abstract

For many years, Sesame producing farmers in Kafta–Humera, northern Ethiopia had been trying to protect their Sesame crop from infestation. However, it was not effective because of re-infestation by pest within a few days after pesticide spray. As a result. in the area, where this research was conducted, the infestation and damage level of the pest were increasing year after year. This study assessed farmers’ and agricultural extension workers’ perception on Sesame Seedbug identity, biology, ecophysiology and possible control methods by employing quantitative and qualitative research designs. Findings indicated that farmers and agricultural extension workers were well aware of the identity and the danger of the bug but did not know its biology and where and how it passes the whole year until Sesame fields are covered by the crop. Hence farmers were unable to look for preventive measures other than insecticides. More than 80% of the farmers said that they are using chemicals, mostly Malathion to protect their crops from the pest. There was a knowledge gap about sesame seedbug among farmers as well as the agricultural development workers (agriculture personnel). As agrarian country, this gap should be abridged and emphasis should be given even to primary and secondary education students in rural areas, where dropout rate is considerable and most of the dropouts join the farming sector. It is also necessary that short term training be arranged on pest control in particular and agricultural adult education in general to the farmer community in the district.

Key word: Awareness, infestation, perception, pest, weight loss.