Knowledge of Termite (Order: Isoptera) Infestations among Crops and Its Control Methods Employed in Danko/Wasagu, Kebbi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Termite infestation is a significant limitation to crop production by smallholder farmers in the study area, but the awareness, perceptions, and management practices by farmers have not been welcomed. This study was conducted to assess the pattern of termite infestation on crops and the control methods employed by farmers. One hundred structured questionnaires were used to collect data from respondents and the data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings showed that most of the respondents were male (83 percent) and married (73 percent) people with different education and farm experience. All of the respondents knew termites to be pests of the crop as roots (32%), flowers (29%), and cereals and tuber crops were the most frequently attacked. Physical (48%), chemical (33%), biological (12%), and cultural (7%) forms of control methods were used by the farmers, but 48 percent of the cases re-infested, indicating the difficulty in using single control methods. The paper demonstrates the necessity to implement integrated termite management (ITM) as a form of combining indigenous knowledge, cultural practice with physical approaches and selective use of chemicals or botanical agents. Therefore, the adoption of integrated termite management (ITM), combining indigenous knowledge with cultural, physical, biological, and selective chemical methods, is essential for sustainable termite control and improved agricultural productivity.