CHANGES IN APPLICATION TECHNIQUES USED BY THE SMALL-SCALE COTTON FARMER IN AFRICA

Yields of cotton on small‐scale farms in Africa are low if farmers are unable to control the different insect pests. Conditions on their farms present special problems in relation to adoption of chemical control, and this has led to the evolution of several different pesticide application techniques. While aerial spraying is used in some areas, ground equipment ranges from the use of knapsack equipment and a spray lance, to the provision of special booms and then to the development of ultra‐low‐volume spray systems. The advantages and disadvantages of each application technique are discussed with reference to the need to develop systems appropriate to particular farming programmes and reduce contamination of the operator and environment. © 1990 Taylor and Francis Ltd.