Author(s): Fatoumata Maïga, Ousmane Diarra, Sory Sissoko, Boubacar Madio dit Aladiogo, Salimatou Samake, Cheick Tékéte, Mohamed Lamine Tékéte, Sognan Dao, Bernadio Sadio and Mamadou Diawara

Abstract: Rice growing occupies a key place in agriculture and the search for food security in Mali. However, in rice production, damage caused by the African rice midge (Orseolia oryzivora) is a major constraint and therefore an economically important insect. The African rice midge is a major pest in the South Sudanian zone where development conditions are favorable for it. This study aims to document the effect of the insect on the yield of IER irrigated rice varieties in Mali. The study was carried out in the IER irrigated area of Baguinéda during the agricultural seasons of 2016, 2017 and 2018. It made it possible to harvest the rice yield from a square of (25 m2) in the 50 study plots and the counting the number of tillers, panicles, full spikelets, empty spikelets, galls, and grains per tuft, at the time of heading at the level of a yield square (1 m2) placed within 50 study plots. All varieties of rice were susceptible to attack by the insect. An analysis of variance carried out from the data revealed a significant difference in the yield of the different rice varieties (p< 0.05). Average yields of rice varieties were very low and varied between 2.8 t/ha for SÉBÉRANG to 0.27 t/ha for BW, with a considerable yield loss of 44% in 2016 compared to the other two 2017 and 2018 agricultural seasons in the area.

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