Abstract Plant diseases cause major crop yield losses and affect food security in lower-income countries. A limited understanding by farmers about the identity of plant diseases, transmission pathways and appropriate management methods is a key, but underexposed, problem. This study uses a sample of 260 farmers producing chili pepper in Bangladesh to elucidate their knowledge, perceptions and management methods regarding chili anthracnose—a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum species. The results show that virtually all farmers had experienced typical symptoms of anthracnose disease and farmers reported average crop yield losses of 4%. Yet, only 22% of the farmers knew that this was a fungal disease and only 25% could tell how the disease spreads in the field. Farmers solely relied on chemical pesticides to control anthracnose, while the use of biopesticides, soil covers and crop rotations was negligible and only 7% of the farmers used labelled seed. A sound understanding of farmers of the crop diseases they face, their transmission pathways, and appropriate management methods is essential for establishing effective pest control. These results clearly show much room for improving chili productivity and the income and health of farmers, by building their capacity to deal with anthracnose disease.

中文翻译：

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孟加拉国农民对辣椒炭疽病的认识、认识和管理

摘要 植物病害造成重大作物产量损失并影响低收入国家的粮食安全。农民对植物病害的特性、传播途径和适当的管理方法的了解有限是一个关键但暴露不足的问题。本研究以孟加拉国 260 名生产辣椒的农民为样本，阐明他们对辣椒炭疽病（一种由炭疽菌引起的真菌病害）的知识、看法和管理方法。结果表明，几乎所有农民都经历过炭疽病的典型症状，农民报告的平均作物产量损失为 4%。然而，只有 22% 的农民知道这是一种真菌病害，只有 25% 的农民知道这种病害是如何在田间传播的。农民完全依靠化学农药防治炭疽病，而生物农药的使用、土壤覆盖和作物轮作可以忽略不计，只有 7% 的农民使用标记的种子。充分了解农民面临的作物病害、传播途径和适当的管理方法对于建立有效的病虫害防治至关重要。这些结果清楚地表明，通过提高农民应对炭疽病的能力，提高辣椒生产力以及农民收入和健康的空间很大。