Journal of Experimental Agriculture International

The genus Striga comprises parasitic plants that cause significant crop damage. Despite control strategies, Striga remains the primary biotic constraint for farmers in Burkina Faso. This study used a two-pronged approach to document farmers’ perceptions and knowledge of Striga and assess the impact of S. hermonthica on sorghum productivity. The study combined a survey with a field assessment across five administrative regions of Burkina Faso (Goulmou, Guiriko, Nazinon, Kadiogo, and Oubri). A survey of 385 farmers assessed their knowledge of Striga. The impact of infestation was evaluated in 75 fields across six yield plots measuring 1 m² per field, comprising three infested and three uninfested plots per field. The data were analysed using univariate and multivariate approaches, as well as linear mixed models. The survey showed that S. hermonthica and S. gesnerioides were the species most familiar to farmers, recognised by 100% and 91.17% of participants, respectively. Striga management relied primarily on mechanical control, with reported frequencies ranging from 37% to 48.4% across sites. Despite its harmful effects, farmers reported using Striga as fodder (8% in Oubri), medicinal products (9% in Goulmou), and veterinary products (10% in Oubri). The field assessment on smallholder farms indicated a negative association between Striga infestation and agronomic traits. Analysis of variance revealed a highly significant effect of the treatment on the variables studied, with F values ranging from 340.11 to 1,038.49 (p < 0.001). Infestation reduced plant height by 17 to 41 percent and grain yield by 59 to 72 percent. These results show that Striga is a major constraint on sorghum production in Burkina Faso and underscore the need to strengthen its management.