International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications ISSN: 2456-9992 Volume 2 Issue 1, January 2018 www.ijarp.org 49 Management Practices Of Insect-Pests And Diseases Of Common Vegetable Crops Of Selected Districts Of Central And Northern Tanzania Julius S. Missanga 1 , Chrispinus D. Rubanza 2 1 University of Dodoma (UDOM), Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, School of Biological Sciences, P. O Box 338, Dodoma, Tanzania jmissanga@gmail.com 2 University of Dodoma (UDOM), Department of Conservation Biology, School of Biological Sciences, P. O Box 338, Dodoma, Tanzania ABSTRACT: Vegetable crops are known for their enriched vitamins and essential nutrients. Vegetable production is among the main sources of income to a majority of smallholder farmers in central and northern Tanzania. Despite a number of factors affecting vegetable production, farmers’ knowledge and skills are so important towards proper management of insect-pests and diseases. This study was therefore carried out to assess the farmers’ management practices of insect-pest and diseases of common vegetable crops mainly tomatoes and sweet peppers in selected districts of semi-arid climates of central and northern Tanzania. To obtain baseline data, a socio-economic survey was carried out is the selected areas with a total of 60 respondents involved. In general, this study revealed unsustainable farming practices that resulted in notable insect-pests and diseases infestation within the farms across Dodoma Municipality, Kongwa, Babati, and Kiteto districts. Proper control and management practices were therefore recommended through training, use of improved varieties and proper agronomic practices for enhanced production. Key words: Insect-pests, Diseases, Management Practices, Vegetable Crops A. INTRODUCTION Vegetable crops are rich in health-promoting phytochemicals that provide good sources of nutrients and minerals, vitamins and other healthy dietary components (Liu, 2013). Vegetable production is significant source of income to smallholder farmers that creates more jobs to farming communities (AVRDC 2006). Tomato, onion, cabbage, hot pepper, carrot, cauliflower, garden pea, amaranth, okra, and eggplant are vegetable crops commonly grown in Africa (Brown et al., 2005). According to FAO (2004), vegetable consumption in most African countries is about 50 kg year -1 that makes only 43% of a minimum recommendation rate of 200 g day -1 (73 kg year -1 ) for a single person. The optimal productivity of vegetable is limited by poor seed quality, climatic and environmental stresses, and insect-pests and diseases which have been associated with low productivity in tropical compared to temperate regions (FAO, 2006; de la Peña and Hughes, 2007). Economic impact from these constraints is great at household levels where productivity is highly limited (Opeña and Kyomo, 1990). The most important financial constraint in vegetable production is that associated with insect-pests and diseases (Ellis-Jones et al., 2008). Improper management practices among farmers contribute significantly to this problem of insect- pests and disease (Salau and Shehu, 2015). Improper agronomic practices such as un-recommended uses of seeds, fertilization and manure, pesticides, and irrigated water result into pathogens contamination to vegetable crops and diseases development (Ibeyessie, 2007; Shehu et al., 2014b). Vegetable crops contribute to a source of income to a majority of smallholder farmers in central and northern Tanzania. However, less was known about management practices by farmers to control insect-pest and diseases. This study was therefore taken to assess farmers’ management practices of insect-pests and diseases of common vegetable crops of selected districts of Central and Northern Tanzania to enhance production. B. MATERIAL AND METHODS Study area The study was carried out in selected administrative wards and villages of Dodoma Municipality, Kongwa, Babati and Kiteto districts as main vegetable growing areas in the central and northern districts of Tanzania (Table. 1). Table 1. Distribution of selected villages of study by districts and wards in Dodoma and Manyara regions Region District Wards Villages Dodoma Dodoma Municipality Mpunguzi Mpunguzi Matumbulu Makotopola Veyula Msalato Kongwa Mlali Mlali Iyegu Mlali bondeni Pandambili Moleti Chamkoroma Chamkoroma Tubugwe juu Manyara Babati Riroda Sangara Magugu Mawemairo Matufa Gichameda Mwada Shaurimoyo Gallapo Gallapo Quash Endodash Kiteto Kibaya Kibaya Partimbo Nalangtomony Matui Matui Bwawani Chapakazi Sunya Sunya (Source: Districts Agricultural and Co-operative Offices)