Cashew ( Anacardium occidentale L.) insect pests and their management: farmers’ knowledge and practices in Bangladesh

AbstractCashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.) farmers are facing challenges producing quality nuts due to inadequate knowledge of cashew insect pests and their management practices in Bangladesh. For this reason, a survey of 144 cashew farmers was conducted from June 2020 to December 2022. Tea mosquito bug (70.1%), cashew stem and root borer (52.8%), and apple and nut borer (45.8%) were the top-ranked among 21 insect pest species of cashew. The highest insect pest infestation was observed in the tender leaves (49.8%). Overall, 56.3% farmers noticed 11–20% yield losses caused by insect pests, while 9% of the farmers believed that yield losses could be more than 40% in cashew orchards. Although physical (7.7%) and mechanical (7.6%) pest management tactics, like hand-picking, use of coal tar, kerosene, and yellow sticky traps were used to control pests, most farmers (84.7%) relied on chemical pesticides. Young and educated farmers were interested in non-chemical pest management options compared to their counterparts. Farmers believed that intercultural operation like weeding and pruning could reduce insect pests in cashew orchards.Keywords: Cashewfarmersinsect pestssurveymanagementBangladesh AcknowledgmentsThe authors gratefully acknowledge the Ministry of Science and Technology, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) for their financial support that enabled the successful completion of this work. The authors are also grateful to cashew farmers and the Sub-Assistant Agricultural Officer (SAAO) of the Bandarban District of Bangladesh for the dedication and corporation during the course of this study. Lastly but not least, we would like to acknowledge “The Center for Writers (CFW)”, North Dakota State University, USA for English language checking and grammatical corrections.Author contributionThis research was conducted in collaboration by all authors. Authors Md. Fuad Mondal and Tareq Ahmed designed the study. Md. Fuad Mondal, Tareq Ahmed, Md. Mehedi Hasan, Pallab Kumar Paul, and Md. Omar Faruque conducted the surveyed with farmers. Tareq Ahmed, Md.Najmol Hoque, and Sourav Mohan Saha performed the statistical analysis and interpreted the data. Tareq Ahmed wrote the whole manuscript. Md. Fuad Mondal, Md. Mehedi Hasan, and Md. Najmol Hoque revised and improved the manuscript. All authors carefully reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.Disclosure statementAuthors declare no conflict of interest.Data availability statementNot applicable.Additional informationFundingThe research was funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC).