An invasive mealybug is severely affecting pawpaw production in Kitgum District, reducing farmers’ yields and incomes, according to a new study by Kitgum District Entomologist Barnabas Opiyo.
The study found that farmers lose an average of 161 kilograms of pawpaw per acre to the pawpaw mealybug, an invasive pest that has become widespread across Northern Uganda.
The losses account for nearly 13 percent of the expected average yield of 1,267 kilograms per acre, translating into significant income losses for smallholder farmers who depend on pawpaw sales to support their households.
The pest attacks leave, stems, and fruits, covering them with a white, cotton-like waxy substance that contaminates the fruit and lowers its market value.
Opiyo’s research surveyed 381 farmers in high-risk sub-counties and found that awareness of the pest is nearly universal.
About 99.4 percent of respondents could identify the mealybug, while 63 percent referred to it by its local name, “Kwidi Paipai.”
The research also found that 62.5 percent of farmers reported more severe infestations during the dry season, when rainfall is low.
However, many respondents said the pest remains a problem throughout the year, a trend researchers attribute to climate variability.
Most farmers rely on traditional methods to control pests.
The study identified wood ash as the most commonly used management practice, while the use of chemical pesticides remains limited because of high costs and inadequate technical knowledge.
By URN
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