Dodder Infestation on Tea in Nandi County, Kenya
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Date
2024
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International Journal of Research in Environmental Science (IJRES)
Abstract
Dodders are holoparasites belonging to the family Convolvulaceae of the genus Cuscuta. Globally, about 200 species are reported to be a threat to crops of economic importance. Of major concern in counties of Kenya, are the impacts of parasitic dodder (Cuscuta spp.) on tea cultivation and production. This study aimed to assess the extent of dodder infestation on tea in Nandi County. An exploratory survey design was chosen for this study. The Yamane sampling formula obtained the sample size for the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 354 respondents from the Kenya Tea Development Agency to represent small-scale and the multinational tea estate to represent large-scale tea farming. Coordinates were captured on the farms with dodder, recorded on an observation checklist, analyzed, and presented on a map. Results obtained showed that 99.4% of the respondents knew about dodder. 205 (58%) respondents didn’t have dodder on their tea farms while 149 (42%) reported the presence of dodder in their tea farms. In the Multinational tea estates, Siret, Chemomi, and Taito reported cases of dodder infestation. Notably, 74.9% of the respondents recorded that children were the major agents of dodder spread. 97.7% of the respondents acknowledged that dodder is a threat to tea farming. In conclusion, dodder has been extensively distributed on tea farms and is a threat to tea farming in the study area. This study recommends further research to develop effective and sustainable dodder control strategies.
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Citation
Faith Jepchirchir Mong’o, et.al., “Dodder infestation on Tea in Nandi County, Kenya", International Journal of Research in Environmental Science (IJRES), vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 27-32, 2024. Available: DOI: http://dx.doi.org / 10.20431/2454-9444.1003003