Sains Malaysiana 39(3)(2010): 513–518

Farmers Perception of Problems in the Cultivation of Selected Leaf Vegetables in South Western Nigeria

(Persepsi Petani Terhadap Masalah dalam Penanaman Sayur Berdaun Terpilih di Bahagian Barat Daya Nigeria)

A. I. Okunlola* & T. I. Ofuya

Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management

The Federal University of Technology Akure P.M.B. 704, Akure Ondo State, Nigeria

Received: 26 June 2008 / Accepted: 4 December 2009

ABSTRACT

The development of alternative strategies for sustainable pests’ management in vegetable production (using insecticides of plant origin) is particularly important in a country like Nigeria where synthetic insecticides are not readily available and farmer s are poorly equipped to handle them. This research was conducted to unravel farmers’ perception of insect pest activities as a constraint to vegetable production and to ascertain the most important pests and indigenous methods of control (using plant extracts). Baseline surveys were conducted using well structured questionnaire on farmers’ plots in farming communities of Akure North and South Local Government Areas of Ondo State. Results from the study affirmed, that all the farmers had the problem of pests on their farms. They have ranked Podagrica sjostedti, P. uniforma, Sylepta derogata, Dsydercus superstitiosus, and Zonocerous variegata as the most important insect pests of the selected leaf vegetables: Amaranthus hybridus, Celosia argentea, and Corchorus olitorius. The results further indicated that 76% of the farmers were aware of the use of indigenous methods of control (using different plant extracts) for the control of pests. The study showed that there was no significant association between education and the use of plant extracts. However, age, sex, and farming experience influenced the use of the plant extracts for insect pest control on the respondents’ farm.

Keywords: Indigenous knowledge; insecticides; insect pest; leaf vegetables; plant extracts

ABSTRAK

Pembangunan strategi alternatif untuk pengurusan perosak secara mampan dalam penghasilan sayur-sayuran (penggunaan racun serangga berasas tumbuhan) adalah penting dalam sesebuah negara seperti Nigeria kerana racun serangga tidak mudah diperoleh dan petani tidak bersedia untuk mengendalinya. Kajian ini dijalankan untuk menghuraikan persepsi petani terhadap aktiviti serangga perosak sebagai pengehad kepada penghasilan sayur-sayuran, mengenalpastikan perosak yang paling penting, dan kaedah kawalan asli (menggunakan ekstrak tumbuhan). Tinjauan garis asas telah dikendali dengan menggunakan soal selidik terstruktur ke atas plot petani dalam komuniti petani dari Akure Utara dan Kerajaan Tempatan Kawasan Selatan negeri Ondo. Hasil kajian mengesahkan semua petani mempunyai masalah perosak dalam kebun mereka. Mereka menyenaraikan Podagrica sjostedti, P. uniforma, Sylepta derogata, Dsydercus superstitiosus dan Zonocerous variegata sebagai perosak serangga yang paling penting ke atas sayuran berdaun terpilih Amaranthus hybridus, Celosia argentea dan Corchorus olitorius. Hasil kajian seterusnya menunjukkan bahawa 76% daripada petani sedar tentang penggunaan kaedah kawalan asli (menggunakan ekstrak tumbuhan) dalam pengawalan perosak. Kajian ini menunjukkan tidak ada hubung kait signifikan antara pelajaran dan penggunaan ekstrak tumbuhan. Namun, umur, jantina dan pengalaman dalam pertanian mempengaruhi penggunaan ekstrak tumbuhan dalam pengawalan serangga perosak.

Kata kunci: Ekstrak tumbuhan; pengetahuan asli; racun serangga; sayuran berdaun; serangga perosak

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*Corresponding author; email: aiokunlola@yahoo.co.uk