https://journal.hakenya.net/index.php/ajhs/issue/feed 2024-09-02T06:03:51+00:00 Open Journal Systems <p>The <strong>African Journal of Horticultural Science (AJHS)</strong> publishes high-quality solicited and unsolicited articles in a wide range of applied and basic horticultural areas dealing with biotechnology, economics, marketing, education, extension, engineering, environment, policy, science, sociology, technology, training and other areas of horticultural science research. Special emphasis is given to development, research and technology transfer, both in physical and natural sciences, particularly as they relate to major areas of concern in horticulture. Other articles that may be submitted include:</p> <ul> <li>Letters and viewpoints: Debates on policy issues relating to horticultural science, technology and industry; personal views and experiences relevant to important horticultural policy issues.</li> <li>News and reports: Horticultural science and technology breakthroughs or matters of concern anywhere, but with direct relevance to Africa.</li> <li>New technologies and products: Evaluation of new horticultural products and technologies developed for or relevant to African markets.</li> <li>Announcements: Information on scientific conferences, training programmes, industrial exhibitions, awards of interest to the African scientific community.</li> </ul> <p>All materials submitted for publication in the AJHS are peer-reviewed and edited. </p> <p>Our objective is to inform authors of the decision on their manuscript within six weeks of submission. Following acceptance, a paper will normally be published in the next available issue.</p> <p>The <strong>AJHS</strong> is fully committed to providing free access to all articles as soon as they are published, to meet the needs of many horticultural stakeholders across the globe on African Horticultural Industry in general. We ask you to support this initiative by publishing your papers in AJHS.</p> <p>The language used is English.</p> https://journal.hakenya.net/index.php/ajhs/article/view/108 2024-09-02T05:53:09+00:00 Naomi N. Mumo naomi.mumo@jkuat.ac.ke Joseph K. Sang noemail@noemail.com Manzi K. Hilda noemail@noemail.com Viola C. Kirui noemail@noemail.com Cosmus M. Muli noemail@noemail.com

<p><strong>Tomato (<em>Solanum</em> <em>lycopersicum) </em>is an important vegetable crop worldwide and locally in Kenya. However, tomato farming is constrained by tomato leafminer (<em>Tuta absoluta</em>), an invasive insect pest. The pest cause severe yield losses in tomato production of 80 - 100 % if not controlled. This study determined the knowledge, perceptions and management practices of tomato leafminer. The study targeted Kathaana tomato growers from Machakos County in Kenya. A stratified sampling procedure was employed. Kathaana tomato growers are organized into five blocks. Within each block, farmers were randomly sampled and administered with a semi-structured questionnaire to collect the data. A total of 135 tomato growers were interviewed in this study. Data collected was cleaned and analyzed descriptively using Statistical Packages for Social Scientists (SPSS). From the survey, 99% of the respondents knew <em>Tuta absoluta</em> with 52 % of the farmers rating yield losses associated with the pest infection in tomato production to be more than 75 %. About 76 % of the respondents reported the larva stage of the pest as the most destructive stage. Majority of the farmers (97 %) perceived the pest problem to be severe during hot and dry seasons. Farmers knew and employed various methods of controlling the pest including physical and cultural, biological and the use of synthetic insecticides. However, about 99% of farmers majorly used synthetic insecticides, the method they perceived as the most efficient in controlling <em>Tuta absoluta</em> with 65 % of farmers reporting a spraying frequency of up to 10 times per growing season. From the study, it is clear that Kathaana tomato growers know <em>Tuta absoluta</em> and various management options available for the pest. However, to reduce the amount of synthetic pesticides used in controlling the pest, sensitization on the use of physical, cultural and biological controls before applying synthetic insecticides in managing the pest is important.</strong></p>

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