Socio-economic factors influencing the adoption of integrated pest management technologies for common bean at household level in Mbeya district Tanzania

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technologies intend to control field pests and diseases caused by biotic and abiotic factors in common bean production. However, little information is available in Tanzania on the adoption of IPM technologies, and their contribution to productivity and production for common bean. This study assessed the adoption of IPM technologies at household level at Isuto ward in Mbeya district. Specifically, the study aimed at determining the adoption of IPM technologies at household level, and examining socio-economic and technology-specific factors influencing the adoption of IPM at household level. Experimental and cross-section research designs were adopted. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from a sample size of 111 bean farming households from villages with and without IPM intervention. Data were collected through household survey, key informant interview and focus group discussion. STATA was used for quantitative data analysis. Findings show that high-yielding disease-resistant improved variety was not adopted while the rate of adoption for pesticides was 73%. Quantitative estimation showed that experience and markets for bean had positive significant influence on the adoption of IPM technologies. On the contrary, age had negative significant influence on IPM technologies adoption. It is concluded that IPM technologies had positive influence on bean production. It is recommended that bean varieties should be released only if they have been shown to be acceptable to the bean farmers.