Assessment of farmer knowledge, practices and challenges of cabbage leaf spot disease management in Ashanti region of Ghana

Abstract

Cabbage Leaf Spot disease (CLS) is a major constraint to cabbage production in the Ashanti region of Ghana, yet limited information exists on farmer knowledge and management practices. Several studies across Africa and Asia report CLS as a disease with severe economic impacts when unmanaged. This study assessed farmers’ understanding of CLS, examined disease management approaches, and identified socio-economic factors that influenced effective disease control. Structured questionnaires were administered to 142 cabbage farmers across Asante Akim North and Ejisu municipalities, Sekyere Central, Sekyere Kumawu, and Bosome Freho districts during the 2022 -2023 growing seasons. Data collected through close- and open-ended questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics, thematic coding, ranking techniques, and non-parametric inferential tests. Awareness of CLS was high (97.83%), with most farmers (95.56%) able to recognize field symptoms. However, substantial knowledge gaps were identified regarding early-stage diagnosis, cause of CLS, optimal timing and rotation of fungicide applications. Reliance on fellow farmers for agricultural information, coupled with inadequate extension support, constrained effective management. Fungicide use was the dominant control strategy, practiced by 46.97% of farmers, though application practices were inconsistent and often based on experiential knowledge or peer advice rather than technical guidance. Socio-economic constraints including limited access to disease-resistant cultivars, high input costs, basic-level education and gender-based disparities among farmers, further impeded adoption of recommended CLS management practices. The study recommends targeted capacity-building interventions, improved extension service delivery, and enhance access to appropriate fungicides and disease-resistant cultivars. Strengthening farmer knowledge, expanding institutional support systems, and improving accessibility to inputs remain essential for sustainable CLS management in the region.