Abstract:
A preliminary survey under the ICIPE - NARES IPM vegetables project established inappropriate and
unsafe use of pesticides on vegetables by most farmers in Mpigi district. A modified version of farmer field
schools models and participatory on-farm research was adopted to develop IPM technologies for appropriate
pesticide use on tomato, cabbage, and hot pepper. Three farmers5 groups in Mpigi District were selected to
participate in the development of IPM technologies on the three vegetable crops. Alternative pest control
options were tested against the technologies currently being used by farmers. Concurrently farmers were
taught how to identify pest constraints on the three crops and participate in formulation of IPM options.
Neem oil and Ambush Super were evaluated on cabbage pests, Neem oil and Nurelle D on hot pepper pests,
and Acrobat and Dithane M45 on tomato late blight. Neem oil controlled insect pests on cabbage and hot
pepper as well as Ambush Super and Nurelle D respectively. Under moderate rainfall conditions of one to
two showers per week, Acrobat, a systemic fungicide, controlled late blight better than Dithane M45, a
contact fungicide.