The Positive Impact of Correcting Date Palm Farmers' Mistakes That Hinder the Control of the Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, Olivier)

This field study was conducted in two major oases in the New Valley Governorate, Egypt, to monitor farmers’ mistakes that delayed control measures and contributed to an increase in Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (red palm weevil) infestations from 2020 to 2023. A total of 22 errors were identified and categorized into three groups: (a) factors delaying infestation detection and control actions, (b) improper horticultural practices, and (c) errors in treatment application. The primary reasons for delayed control included farmers’ lack of awareness regarding pest symptoms and stages, their complete reliance on the Agriculture Directorate for control measures, and limited financial resources for palm pest management. Horticultural errors included the absence of preventive spraying after pruning and offshoot separation, transferring infested offshoots to healthy areas, and leaving infested palm waste along pathways, leading to reinfestation. Farmers also neglected to inspect and prune male and non-economic date palms, conduct monthly infestation checks, or control rodents, which contribute to pest spread. Treatment-related mistakes included the misconception that surface pesticide spraying, agricultural sulfur dusting, or burning infested palms could eliminate the weevil. Additionally, incorrect pesticide application, excessive pesticide concentrations, and improper mechanical injections at the palm’s terminal bud (Jumara) resulted in palm mortality. To assess the positive impact of correcting these errors, a sector with 32,000 date palms (El Kharga 10) was selected, where farmers received extensive training to improve their pest management practices. The infestation rate decreased from 1% in 2020 to 0.7%, 0.47%, and 0.16% in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively, with reduction rates of 0.30%, 0.53%, and 0.84%.