Research project: Development of integrated disease management for rice blast disease (Pyricularia grisea) in Tanzania

Ibrahim is a DRIP PhD fellow supervised by Prof. Robert Mabagala and Prof. Delphina Mamiro, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania. Ibrahim’s research interests include plant disease diagnostic, distribution and management options. In Africa, the use of pesticides to control crop diseases has increased to a large extent, and their misuse is becoming more abundant. The reports have shown the detrimental effects of these pesticides to the environment, farmers, consumer health, beneficial predators and parastoids. However, in Tanzania little information is available on the integrated management of rice blast disease involving cultural and biological control agents. Therefore, assessment of cultural methods such as hot water seed treatment, rates of nitrogen fertilizer and bio-pesticides such Trichoderma spp. and Bacillus subtilis for rice blast disease management in Tanzania is highly needed. This research sets a basis for this work. Ibrahim completed his postgraduate studies in MSc crop science and undergraduate studies in BSc in Agriculture at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania.