Dynamics of chickpea Fusarium wilt: associated risk factors, farmers’ knowledge and management practices, in West Amhara, Ethiopia

This study synthesises biophysical field data and socio-economic surveys to unravel the complex dynamics of CFW in West Amhara, Ethiopia. Findings from 246 farms reveal that CFW is a dominant production constraint, perceived as a major chickpea production hurdle by 73.9% of smallholders. A significant inverse correlation exists between farmer experience and disease intensity: expert farmers (above 30 years of experience) maintained a significantly lower wilt incidence (12.8%) compared to less experienced peers (30.1%). The results suggest that CFW epidemics in West Amhara are the product of fragmented extension services and informal knowledge sharing as they are of biophysical risk factors, necessitating a shift towards pathogen-aware integrated management strategies. Risk factors mainly early planting, poor weed management, and short rotations found to exacerbate the disease epidemics. Therefore, long cereal based rotations after four years, delayed planting, proper weed management significantly reduced the disease intensity to an acceptable level.