Are millipedes a pest in low-input crop production in north-eastern Uganda? : farmer's perception and experimentation

Summary

These studies included: (i) Field survey on farmers’ knowledge on sweet potato production and perception of millipede infestation; (ii) Field assessment of pests in sweet potato and other major crops conducted in the planting seasons of 2000 – 2002; (iii) Feeding activity of the East African millipede Omopyge sudanica Kraus, based on no-choice laboratory experiments, and (iv) Comparison of the indigenous cultural practices of piecemeal harvesting and storage roots ‘in-ground on plants’ with one-time harvesting after crop senescence in trials conducted in the planting seasons of 2002 – 2003. There was inadequate information about millipedes in general and possible control strategies in East Africa. Therefore a literature study was also done to gain more knowledge about this animal.