Adoption of Integrated Pest Management (Ipm) Practices to Control Capnodes Pests on Stone Fruit Trees in Irbid Governorate in Jordan

Stone fruit production in Jordan has decreased and the yield is relatively low as a result of certain factors like, cultivar selection and farm location, inadequate farm management, disease control and lack of pest management programs. The adoption rate of the suggested Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program which disseminated among Jordanian growers in the year 2005 via national extension program was implemented in Irbid Governorate to control and manage Capnodes (Capnodes tenebrionis L.) insect which attacks and reduces stone fruit trees production. The study used a survey questioner consisting of five parts and the sample population was (n=152). The specific objectives of the study were: (1) to determine the adoption rate of (IPM) practices by farmers, (2) to describe the personal characteristics of stone fruit trees farmers (3) to determine farmers’ main source of information and (4) to determine the relationship between some specific farmers’ characteristics and adoption rate of farmers. The results showed that the majority of the respondents are males (94%), one third of the farmers (32.2%) are between (41- 50) years of age category, the majority of farmers are married (84%); the average family members are (6). (27%) of farmers had 5 to 10 years working experience in agriculture, (30%) of farmers had less than 10 dunums in land area. Moreover; (22.4%) of the farmers were full time. (50%) of farmers rented their major agricultural equipment and 25 % from their income derived from growing almonds. The study revealed that the adoption rate of the (IPM) program was low as (36.7%). The study showed that the main sources of farmers’ information (26.3%) are from National Center for Agriculture Research and Extension (NCARE), (7.2%) is from universities, (19.1%) is from private sector companies and (23.7%) is from expert farmers. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between (farmers’ working experience and land area) and farmers’ adoption rate at a significant level (P ≤ 0.05) and (P ≤ 0.01). The study recommend a full awareness program targeting stone fruit trees on (IPM) practices and procedure to control Capnodes insect attack in Jordan.