%0 Journal Article
%@ 1742-7584
%A Mujuka, E A
%A Affognon, H D
%A Muriithi, B W
%A Subramanian, S
%A Irungu, P
%A Mburu, J
%D 2017
%F icrisat:9966
%I Cambridge University Press
%J International Journal of Tropical Insect Science
%K Integrated pest management, economic surplus model, thrips, Kenya, French bean, IPM
%P 1-11
%T Returns to research and outreach for integrated pest management of western flower thrips infesting French bean and tomato in Kenya
%U http://oar.icrisat.org/9966/
%X Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is a major invasive pest that causes extensive yield losses in French bean and tomato in Kenya. Thrips management is based on the application of pesticides. In addition to increased environmental risks associated with pesticides, frequent use of these chemicals increases production costs and pesticide resistance. Furthermore, exports are restricted due to non-compliance to maximum residue levels in important consumer export markets, especially the European Union (EU). This study was conducted to estimate the potential benefits of the effectiveness of the icipe-developed strategy for control of western flower thrips before dissemination of the technology in Kenya, using the economic surplus model. We calculated the benefit–cost ratio, the Net Present Value (NPV) and the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) using Cost–Benefit Analysis (CBA). Assuming a maximum conservative adoption rate of 1% and a 10% discount rate for the base deterministic scenario, the NPV of the research was estimated at US$2.2 million, with an IRR of 23% and a BCR of 2.46. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the NPV, IRR and BCR increased at an increasing rate as adoption rates increased. However, as elasticities of supply and demand increased, the NPV, IRR and BCR increased at a decreasing rate. The findings demonstrate that farmers from developing countries can gain when they obtain access to suitable pest management innovations such as integrated pest management technologies. Consequently, investment in IPM technologies for suppression of western flower thrips should be enhanced.
%Z This study was funded by BMZ (the German  FederalMinistry for Economic Cooperation and Development)  through the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft  für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) funded project  entitled ‘Implementation of integrated thrips and  tospovirus management strategies in smallholder  vegetable cropping systems of Eastern Africa’  (Project no. 11.7860.7-001.00, contract no. 81141840).  We also gratefully acknowledge core support to  icipe, Kenya provided by UK Aid from the UK  Government, Swedish International Development  Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Swiss Agency for  Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Ministry  for Economic Cooperation and Development  (BMZ), Germany and the Kenyan Government. The  views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the  official opinion of the donors. We are also indebted  to our project colleagues, Patrick Onchieku, Jane  Maundu, Josephine Simiyu, Jacqueline Oseko and  Wilfred Yako for supporting this study with data  and for valuable discussions.We appreciate the staff  members that were involved in this study from  the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries  (MOALF) and the Kenya Agricultural & Livestock  Research Organization (KALRO).