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Action against invasive species: Knowledge, effect and behavioural drivers of fall armyworm management

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  • Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr.
  • Nyam, Yong Sebastian

Abstract

We examine the effect of the invasive insect, fall armyworm (FAW) on maize production, smallholder commercialization, labour allocation, and livestock, highlighting knowledge about FAW and their infestation levels. We also investigate the control strategies used in managing this damaging pest and its drivers with a view on behavioural factors such as aspirations, self-efficacy, and locus of control. Using a farm household dataset from Kenya and employing different empirical strategies, we show that 95 % of farmers are aware of and correctly identify FAW, with an infestation level of about 75 %. These high infestation levels have a negative effect (25 and 23 %) on maize production and commercialization respectively. FAW infestation also positively affects labour allocation which is reflected in the various management practices used by farmers: biological, cultural control, and pesticides which are used by almost 80 % of farmers. We establish significant substitutability between pesticide use and biological as well as cultural control methods. We further show a positive association between aspirations and pesticide use (0.9 percentage points). In the same vein, we also find a positive (negative) association between internal (external) locus of control and pesticide use. Overall, we document the importance of behavioural factors for invasive pest management.

Suggested Citation

  • Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr. & Nyam, Yong Sebastian, 2025. "Action against invasive species: Knowledge, effect and behavioural drivers of fall armyworm management," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:230:y:2025:i:c:s0921800925000199
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2025.108536
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr., 2022. "Ecological shocks and non-cognitive skills: Evidence from Kenya," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    2. Martin Paul Jr. Tabe-Ojong & Thomas Heckelei & Kathy Baylis, 2021. "Aspiration Formation and Ecological Shocks in Rural Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(4), pages 833-860, August.
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    4. Tanguy Bernard & Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse, 2014. "Editor's choice Aspirations: An Approach to Measurement with Validation Using Ethiopian Data," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 23(2), pages 189-224.
    5. Menale Kassie & Tesfamicheal Wossen & Hugo De Groote & Tadele Tefera & Subramanian Sevgan & Solomon Balew, 2020. "Economic impacts of fall armyworm and its management strategies: evidence from southern Ethiopia," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 47(4), pages 1473-1501.
    6. Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr., 2023. "Action against invasive species: Charcoal production, beekeeping, and Prosopis eradication in Kenya," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    7. Martin Paul Jr. Tabe-Ojong & Emmanuel Nshakira-Rukundo & Bisrat Haile Gebrekidan, 2023. "COVID-19 and food insecurity in Africa: A review of the emerging empirical evidence," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 50(3), pages 853-878.
    8. Regan Early & Bethany A. Bradley & Jeffrey S. Dukes & Joshua J. Lawler & Julian D. Olden & Dana M. Blumenthal & Patrick Gonzalez & Edwin D. Grosholz & Ines Ibañez & Luke P. Miller & Cascade J. B. Sort, 2016. "Global threats from invasive alien species in the twenty-first century and national response capacities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, November.
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