| Summary: | The study was undertaken with the objective of developing an IPM control strategy against M. vitrata in cowpea which will replace the existing use of calendar based application of broad spectrum chemical insecticide (Mixture of 30g cypermethrin and 250g dimethoate) in Kebbi State of Nigeria. The study initially made use of a survey backed up by focus group interviews to gather information on the types of farmers’ cowpea cultivation practices, their perceptions on pests and pesticides and the economics of cowpea cultivation with the aim of incorporating those practices that were found to be IPM compatible in the strategy developed. The result showed that most farmers were small scale growers who inappropriately used chemical insecticides due to lack of knowledge of other alternatives. Farmers had good scouting ability as demonstrated by their knowledge of field insect pests of cowpea, the nature of their feeding habit and magnitude of damage due to these insect pests. Cowpea cultivation in Zuru is profitable, labour and insecticides costs were the major profit limiting factors in cowpea cultivation. Therefore, an on-station trial was conducted which initially focused on the evaluation of four potential IPM components for their suitability as control tools against M. vitrata using two cowpea varieties [Danzafi (local) and improved Kanannado (IT89KD-245-1)]. The result showed that neem (nke) at 5% concentration was as effective as chemical insecticide (mixture of cypermethrin and dimethoate) in terms of reducing larval infestation/damage, pods and seeds damage as well as increasing yield of cowpea. In the next season another on-station trial was conducted to validate use of nke on scouting basis as an IPM system for the management of M. vitrata using the same cowpea varieties. The result showed that, the scouting based nke application had significantly higher larval infestation/damage which significantly lowered yield in comparison with the calendar based insecticide application. However,; the highest cost benefit ratio was sustained by the scouting based nke application. During the third season on-farm trial, although nke on scouting based application had significantly higher larval infestation/damage compared to calendar based chemical insecticide application yield was similar, indicating that it was not affected. The application of nke on scouting basis did not affect the abundance of the natural enemies. It was therefore concluded that nke application on scouting basis has the potential as an IPM control strategy against M. vitrata in cowpea.
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