Elisante, Filemon, Ndakidemi, Patrick, Arnold, Sarah ORCID: 0000-0001-7345-0529 , Belmain, Steven R. ORCID: 0000-0002-5590-7545 , Gurr, Geoff M, Darbyshire, Iain, Xie, Gang and Stevenson, Philip ORCID: 0000-0002-0736-3619 (2019) Enhancing knowledge among smallholders on pollinators and supporting field margins for sustainable food security. Journal of Rural Studies, 70. pp. 75-86. ISSN 0743-0167 (doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.07.004)

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Abstract

Agro-ecological intensification (AEI) harnesses natural processes, such as pollination, that support sustainable food production and can buffer against future risks. However, the transition from conventional agriculture, which relies on inputs that can damage natural ecosystems, to more sustainable food production, is knowledge-intensive. Here, we investigated knowledge gaps among smallholder farmers about pollinators and field margins in a bean agri-system in Tanzania. While 77% of farmers were familiar with and identified honeybees correctly prior to training, only 52% understood their role as a pollinator of crops. Furthermore, 80% and 98% of farmers were unaware of the significance of wild (solitary) bees or the importance of hoverflies as pollinators. A high level of synthetic agrochemical use was reported for the management of pests and weeds, particularly in the more agriculturally intensive production systems. However, an end-line survey conducted one year after training showed an increase in knowledge and the majority of farmers, 99%, 54% and 62% subsequently recognized honeybees, hoverflies and solitary bees respectively, by name. Furthermore, 95%, 69% and 60% of farmers understood the importance of honeybees, hoverflies and solitary bees respectively, as crop pollinators and natural enemies (for hoverflies). Similarly, a majority of farmers recognised the benefits of biopesticides as environmentally over synthetic pesticides as well as the value of field margins in supporting pollinators and other ecosystem services. We argue that, improving understanding among smallholder farmers of ecosystem services and their ecological requirements is both feasible and essential to achieving sustainable intensification in small holder farming systems.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	crop production, ecosystem services, farming practices, field margin plants, pollination
Subjects:	S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Agriculture, Health & Environment Department Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Chemical Ecology Research Group
Last Modified:	12 Feb 2021 01:38
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/24610

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