Adoption of Olive Farmers to the Integrated Pest Management Techniques in the Syrian Coastal Region

Sakr, L.M., M.J. Al-Abdallah and A.N.M. Bashir. 2021. Adoption of Olive Farmers to the Integrated Pest Management Techniques in the Syrian Coastal Region. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 39(1): 69-78. A survey was conducted to investigate adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) approaches by olive farmers, through determining their knowledge about the most important olive pests in the Syrian Coastal Area, and the relationship between growers’ personal traits and their adoption of IPM approaches. This evaluation was carried out in 42 villages in Tartus and Lattakia governorates along the Syrian coast in 2017 and 2018 growing seasons. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with a random sample of 420 olive growers by using a questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study. Collected data on frequencies, percentages, averages, standard deviations, relative importance index, in addition to correlation coefficients, were used for data analysis. Results showed that: the Spilocaea oleagina (Cast.), Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), Prays oleae (Bernard) and Euphyllura olivina (Costa) were the most prevalent pests in the researched area, whereas Margaronia unionalis (Hubner), Leveillula taurica (Lév.), and Phloeotribus scarabaeoides (Bernard) were less common. Almost 57.78 and 32.8% of farmers had medium level of IPM adoption in Tartus and Lattakia governorates, respectively. Positive significant correlation was found between adoption levels and each of degree of participation in extension activities and knowledge levels, whereas negative significant correlation was found between adoption levels and each of land property fragmentation and constraints of IPM implementation. Based on this findings it can be concluded that extension activities need to be intensified and more emphasis should be placed on training programs to improve growers’ knowledge and adoption of the concepts and applications of IPM practices. Keywords: Integrated pest management, olive growers, Syrian coast, knowledge diffusion level, adoption.