ABSTRACT
The study assessed the effect of use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practice on yield of rice in South-East, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study include to; ascertain the most prevalent pest of rice in the study area, ascertain farmers’ awareness of IPM, ascertain farmers’ sources of information about IPM in South-East Nigeria, estimate the yield of rice before the use of IPM practice, determine the level of utilization of IPM practice by the respondents, estimate the yield of rice farmers after the use of IPM practice in the study area and ascertain the perceived constraint in the use of IPM. The major hypothesis states that use of IPM practice has no significant effect on the yield of rice in the study area. A Multi- stage sampling technique was used to select 360 respondents from three States (Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu States) of South-East Nigeria. Questionnaire and interview schedule were used for data collection, and data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency count, percentages, mean scores, ANOVA and regression model. The results showed that most prevalent pests of rice were represented by birds, grasshopper, grasscutter, stemborer and butterfly and most (64.4%) of the farmers became aware of IPM practice mainly through friends, cooperatives, radio, extension agents, facebook and newspaper. The estimated yield of rice farmers was low (1,236.5kg/ha) before they started using IPM but became high (3,115kg/ha) after the use of IPM practice. The grand mean score ( = 3.05) showed that there is high utilization of IPM in South-East. The major perceived constraints in the use of IPM include, inadequate finance, insufficient information about IPM, high cost of inputs, inadequate technical know-how, among others. The first null hypothesis result was rejected since the farmers’ use of IPM had significant effect on yield of rice at 1% probability level. The last null hypothesis was also rejected since there was a significant difference on yield of rice produced, using IPM and that produced without using IPM practice at 0.05 alpha level. The study, therefore, concludes that the use of IPM practice had a positive effect on yield of rice in South-East, Nigeria. It, therefore, recommends that financial agencies should make loan and other credit facilities accessible to rice farmers through their various cooperatives to support their farming activities. Also, extension agencies and Government agricultural ministries should organize in-service training for extension agents to equip them with skills and information about IPM practice because that will help to solve the problem of insufficient information about IPM and inadequate technical know-how. More so, farm shows/exhibition programmes should be organized by agricultural agencies and cooperatives to enable rice farmers showcase their high yields from IPM practice and encourage more farmers to utilize IPM practice.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Cover Page
Title Page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgments v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables xi
List of Figures xii
Abstract xiii
CHAPTER
1: INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study 1
1.2
Statement of Problem 7
1.3
Research Questions 10
1.4
Objectives of the Study 10
1.5
Hypotheses 11
1.6
Significance of the Study 11
1.7
Scope of the Study 13
1.8
Definition of Terms 13
CHAPTER
2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Conceptual
Review 15
2.1.1 Pests of rice and its’ effects on rice production 15
2.1.2 Measures of pest control 29
2.1.3 Integrated pest management (IPM) strategy 37
2.1.4 Overview of rice production 41
2.1.5 Rice production in South-East, Nigeria. 45
2.1.6 Overview of rice yield 49
2.1.7 Utilization of integrated farm management
(IFM) practices/sustainable
agricultural practices (SAP) 52
2.1.8 Concept of farm management extension services 58
2.2 Review of Relevant Theories 61
2.2.1 Programme
theory or logic model 61
2.2.2 Protection
motivation theory (PMT) 64
2.2.3 Theory-based
participation evaluation model 66
2.2.4 Stimulus-response
(S-R) theory of learning 68
2.2.5 Theory
of change 70
2.3 Theoretical Background 70
2.4 Empirical Framework 72
2.5 Conceptual Framework 76
2.5.1 Independent
variable 76
2.5.2 Intervening
variable 77
2.5.3 Moderating
variable 78
2.5.4 Dependent
variable 78
2.5.5 Interaction of variables
80
CHAPTER
3: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Area of Study 81
3.2 Population of the Study 84
3.3 Sample and Sampling Procedure 85
3.4 Method of Data Collection 86
3.5 Validation
of Instrument 87
3.6 Test of Reliability of Instrument 87
3.7 Measurement
of Variables 88
3.7.1 The independent variables 88
3.7.1.1 Utilization of
IPM practices 88
3.7.1.2 Selected
personal, social and economic characteristics of the farmers 88
3.7.2 The dependent variable 90
3.8 Method of Data Analysis 90
3.8.1 Model
specification 93
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Personal, Social and-Economic
Profile of the Respondents 98
4.1.1: Age 99
4.1.2: Sex 99
4.1.3: Marital status 100
4.1.4: Access to credit
100
4.1.5: Household size 101
4.2 Social Profile of the Respondents
102
4.2.1: Membership of co-operative 103
4.2.2: Extension
contact 103
4.2.3 Level of education
104
4.2.4: Farming experience 104
4.3 Most
Prevalent Pests in South-East 106
4.4 Awareness of IPM Practices 108
4.5 Sources of Information about IPM Practices
110
4.6 Perceived Effect of Pest on Rice before
the Use of IPM 112
4.7: Yield Estimate of Rice Farmers before the
Adoption of IPM 114
4.8 Level of Utilization of IPM Practices 115
4.9 Perceived Effect of Pest on Rice after
the Practice of IPM 117
4.10 Yield Estimate of Rice Farmers after the
Use of IPM 118
4.11 Perceived Constraints in the Use of IPM 120
4.12 Hypotheses Testing 122
Hypothesis 1
122
Hypothesis 2
123
Hypothesis 3
124
Hypothesis 4
126
Hypothesis 5
129
CHAPTER
5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1
Summary 130
5.2
Conclusion 133
5.3
Recommendations 133
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
LIST OF
TABLES
3.1
Sampling Procedure and Sample Size
86
4.1: Distribution
of Respondents according to their Personal and Economic Characteristics 98
4.2: Distribution
of Respondents according to their Social Characteristics 102
4.3: Distribution of Respondents according to
the Prevalence of Pest in Rice Farm 106
4.4: Distribution of Respondents according to
their Awareness about IPM Practices 108
4.5: Distribution of Respondents according to
their Sources of IPM Information 110
4.6: Distribution of Respondents according to
their Perceived Effect of Rice before IPM 112
4.7: Distribution of Respondents according to
Yield Estimate before the Adoption of IPM 114
4.8: Distribution of Respondents according to
their Level of Utilization of IPM Practices 115
4.9: Distribution of Respondents according to
their Perceived Effect of Pest after IPM Use 117
4.10: Distribution
of Respondents according to their Yield Estimate after the Use of IPM Practice 118
4.11: Distribution of Respondents according to
their Constraints in the Use of IPM 120
4.12: Simple
linear Regression Influence of Use of IPM on Yield of Rice in the Study Area. 122
4.13: Analysis of Variance of the
Difference in the Level of Use of IPM among States in South-East. 123
4.14a: Analysis of Variance of Difference
in the Yield of Rice Produced among States in South-East. 124
4.14b: Freidman’s
Pairwise Comparism Test Statistic of the Variations across the States Studied 125
4.15:
Multiple Regression Analysis of the Effect
of Personal, Social and Economic Characteristics
of
the Respondents on Yield of Rice Farmers. 126
4.16: Z-test Analysis of the Difference in the Yield of
Rice Produced Using IPM Practice and
Without Using IPM Practice.
129
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
1.
Schematic presentation of
the conceptual framework designed for this study
‘’Effect of use of IPM practices on yield of rice in
South-East’’. 79
2. Map of South-East Nigeria 84
CHAPTER
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
Nigeria is endowed with favorable
environment for cereal cultivation. Cereals are the major dietary energy
suppliers which provide significant amount of protein, minerals (potassium and
calcium), vitamins (Vitamins A and C). Its protein is easily digestible, with
good biological benefits and protein efficiency ratio due to the fact that its
lysine concentration is high (Dauda, Yakubu, Sambo, Okwoie, Adeosun and Onyibe,
2014). They are consumed in a variety of forms, including pastes, noodles, cakes, breads, drinks
etc. The bran, husk, plant parts and other residues (after processing) are
useful as animal feeds and in the culture of micro-organisms, while wax syrup
and gum extracted from cereals are used for industrial purposes. Major cereals
produced in Nigeria are rice, sorghum, maize, and millet.
Rice
(Oriza sativa) is a very important
food crop globally. Virtually all the rice growing ecologies (the upland
irrigated, inland valley swamp, deep water floating and tidal mangrove swamp)
abound in Nigeria. The Nigerian savannah ecology is the major cereal production
area in Nigeria. It accounts for about 665,600 square kilometres (about 67
million hectares), and today rice is one of the leading staple foods in the
world.This is due to changing consumer preferences and rapidly increasing
population (Muthaya, Sugimoto, Montgomery and
Maberly, 2014). Globally, rice consumption increased from 437.18 million
metric tons in 2008/2009 crop year to about 486.62 million metric tons in the
2018/2019 crop year (Shahbandeh, 2020). By virtue of the extent and variety of
its uses and adaptability to a broad range of climate, edaphic and cultural
conditions, it is a major food crop in the world
(Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), 2012). The
World Bank, according to National Agricultural Extension and Research and
Liaison Service (NAERLS) (2010), projected that from 2010, the poorest income
class of urban households in Nigeria may obtain not less than 33 percent of
their annual cereal-based calories from rice because among the major cereals,
rice is the primary staple of more than hundreds of millions of people in
developing economies, including Africa. Presently, revenue in rice market
amounts to US$ 3.85bn in 2023 and the market is expected to grow annually by
15.66% between 2023-2027 (Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), 2023). The African
continent emerged as a major rice importer because rice emerged as the fastest
developing food in sub-Saharan Africa in the last decade, and as a result,
there is considerable increase in demand for rice in Africa than other places
round the world (Nasrin, Lodin, Jirstrom, Holmqist, Djurfeldt and Djurfeldt,
2015). Rice is one of the most consumed staples in Nigeria, with a consumption
capita of 32Kg and within the past decade, consumption has increased 47%,
almost four times the global consumption and reached 6.4 million tons in 2017
(Edafe, 2017).
Again, rice consumption is
accelerating rapidly in the country owing to urbanization, easy cooking, and
storage (Uga, Sugimoto, Ogawa, Rane and Ishitani, 2013). More so, rice is among
the few food crops in Nigeria that is eaten across religious, ethnic, cultural
or geographical divides. This food crop is highly prioritized and widely
accepted as food during festive periods. According to Basorun (2013), rice is
highly revered in many rural areas to the extent that it is prepared mostly on
Sundays and local market days, though, it is now assuming a regular daily meal
nowadays. Sustainability is, therefore, paramount in rice production for the
nation to fill the gap required for the increasing population.
Rice production flourishes well in
humid regions of the sub-tropic and temperate climates and, according to
Ajijola, Usman, Egbetokun, Akoun and Osalusi (2012), Nigeria is richly blessed
and has the ability to be self-reliant in producing rice because every ecological
region throughout the nation can comfortably cultivate rice. Unfortunately,
however, the production of this all important food crop is gradually reducing
and consequently, there is increase in price beyond the reach of many Nigerians
(Ajala and Gana, 2015). As a result, the country relies hugely on imported rice
to the tune of more than five million tonnes per annum, which equates to more
than $ US 800 million (Ojogbo and Alufohai, 2014). Currently, according to
Ekwelem (2023), rice import into Nigeria dropped to 438 tons in 2022 due to
increase in Nigeria local rice production.
Research has shown that Africa faces
great challenges in the production of cereal crops of which rice is among the
largest (Macauley and Ramadjita, 2015). This is against the backdrop that
cereal forms the highest percentage of calorie intake in the national diet of
22 countries of the world, sixteen of which are domiciled in Africa (Blein,
2013). These challenges in South-East Region of Nigeria, where agricultural activities are predominant, includes
harsh climatic factors and the prevalence of pest infestation. IITA (2019)
indicated that climate-induced cereal production is associated with certain
constraints which include heat, drought stress and emerging invasive insect
pests and diseases. As a result of the above constraints, cereal crops yield in
Africa is generally low (Edmeades, Trevisan, Prasanna, and Campos, 2017).
The common pests of cereal crops in
Nigeria, according to Harrison, Thierfelder, Baudron, Chinwada, Midega, Schaffner
and VandenBerg (2019), include termites, stem borer, weevils, armyworm, birds,
grasshopper, butterfly, etc and these pests survive on at least 80 plant
species, including rice. The negative influence of pest invasion on
food/nutrition security has been made worse due to insufficient
resistant/tolerant varieties, poor control measures and management of pests
(Harrison, et al., 2019).
Currently, researchers are working on
immediate and long-term solutions to these problems, and the available control
strategies include use of pesticides, cultural practices, use of natural
enemies, the use of resistance variety, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
strategy.
Most farmers rely on synthetic
pesticides because intensive synthetic pesticides can support rice productivity
by reducing yield losses caused by pests but on the other hand, the persistent
overuse of chemicals has resulted in a number of adverse environmental impacts
such as, outbreak of secondary pests, decreasing of beneficial insects and the accumulation
of toxins in the food webs (Arora, Mukherji, Kumar and Tanwar, 2014). More so, some still rely on mechanical
control methods, indigenous method, farmer-to-farmer advice, and
recommendations from extension services (Baudron, Zaman-Allah, Chaipa, Chari,
& Chinwada, 2019). According to Baudron et
al., (2019), some of the practices are seen as labor- intensive,
exhaustive, time-consuming, and not practicable, especially for women, who are
usually the dominant labour force in smallholder agricultural systems. In some
regions, farmers tried to control pest using botanical pesticides such as
ground chili pepper, tobacco extracts and neem tree leaves (Kumela, Simiyu,
Sisay, Likhayo, Gohole and Tefera, 2019). These are seen to be cheaper
alternatives for the resource-poor farmers, and are probably less hazardous to
the farmers, environment, and non-target insects (Stevenson, Isman, &
Belmain, 2017). However, farmers’ choice
of pest control strategy is affected by various factors, which include
availability of a control strategy (including its effectiveness and ease of
use), availability of resources, gender, age, among other issues (Kansiime,
Mugambi, Rwomushana, Nunda, Lamontagne-Godwin, Rware, and Day, 2019).
Research and extension are advising
farmers to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to manage cereal crop pests
because it is targeted at minimizing chemical damage to humans and the
environment, while targeting effective pest control (Day, Phil, Melanie, Tim.
& Anne, 2017). According to Kabir and Rainis, (2015), Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) is a combined use of chemical, cultural, biological and
mechanical methods to control pest in a farm. This technique has been developed
by Farmers Field School (FFS) and it is an effective, environmentally-sound
approach to pest management, with the aim of also protecting the air, water and
soil resources, while meeting specific production objectives (National
Pesticides information Centre in USA, 2015). Wu and Guo (2005) also stated that
Integrated Pest Management practices in agriculture can be defined as an optimum
combination of pest management methods implemented in farmers’ fields, which
minimizes economic yield loss of crop caused by insect pests, without resulting
in toxic effects to other organisms.
It
is recognized as one of the most robust constructs to arise in the agricultural
sciences during the second half of the twentieth century. The approach of
Integrated Pest Management (IPM), according to Syarief, Gatot, Abdul, Toto
(2018), is an extensive approach which involves the use of all existing skills,
techniques and practices such as the combination of;
i.
Cultural
practices (use of various farming practices/systems and adjusting the planting/harvesting
time)
ii.
Physical/Mechanical
methods (scaring, trapping, killing and putting up physical barriers)
iii.
Biological
materials/techniques (use of natural predators,
biopesticides and resistance varieties)
iv.
chemical
pesticides (use of synthetic or inorganic substances)
in
harmonious and compatible manner in order to restrain pest inhabitants below
economic injury level, based on regular crop pest inspections and monitoring.
It is imperative to note that
including farmers' traditional agricultural knowledge of insect behavior and
life cycles is essential for developing a successful IPM plan (Vinatier,
Lescourret, Duyck and Tixier, 2012). According to Craig (2015), it takes into
account their current agricultural practices and experience in a given
agro-ecosystem.
According
to Surendra (2019), the design of IPM models are expected to stem from science
base, with special emphases on environmental factors and evolving aspect of
pest control in order to ameriolate the economic losses, that could arise due
to pest. The operation of IPM strategies, anywhere in the world is expected to
be guided by this model, with the sole motive of ensuring increased gains for
the grower, in addition to generating and executing sustainable agricultural
practices which are geared towards ensuring food security for the ever
increasing population worldwide. Integrated pest management is an effective and
environmentally-friendly pest control technique (Kabir and Rainis, 2015) and
according to Alam, Crump, Haque, Islam, Hasan, Hossain, Hasan, Hossain (2016),
was generated for use, as an approach to be adopted in the production of
healthy food, hence its use for effective pest control in rice ecological
regions.
From historic point of view, Sorby, Fleischer, Pehu
(2003) noted that the development of Integrated Pest Management practices has
taken various forms in different countries across the world, however, these
practices changes with the socio-economic characteristics and environmental
conditions of each country. Conducive environment is very important to the
survival of living things, therefore, it is expedient that all agricultural
stakeholders must necessarily take conscious actions and be actively involved
to restore environmental balance both at the micro and macro levels (Ifenkwe,
Apu and Arigbo, 2013).
The
focus of IPM, in line with the control of pest to meet specific production
objectives, is to protect and encourage natural predators of pests (Naranjo,
Ellsworth and Frisvold, 2015). The developers of IPM strategies should have a
good understanding of the pest development, ranging from its breeding to death,
and how they interact with predators as this will help to provide the basis for
effective design and implementation of an IPM strategy. Continued research and
development of sustainable and effective agricultural-pest-management techniques
is essential if farmers are going to successfully adopt
environmentally-friendly pest-management strategies (Pretty and Bharucha,
2015).
IPM control strategy, guided by
cultural approaches already being used by farmers, is the best option to manage
different types of pest in Nigeria. According to Onstad (2014), the Integrated
Pest Management (IPM) strategy is targeted at preventing or avoiding pest
infestation, using the IPM Triangle Strategies. The IPM triangle strategies is
anchored on the combined use of minimum application of safe pesticides
(chemical method), use of evidence-based option (cultural method) and managing
insect resistance (biological method) to control the infestation of pests in
the farm.
It, therefore, become necessary to
carry out an empirical study to assess the effect of use of Integrated Pest
Management Practices on yield of rice in South-East Region of Nigeria.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
According
to Mba, Madu, Ajaero and Obetta (2021), rice is produced in not less than four
States of the South-East, especially Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu and Anambra States. However,
production capacity is far below national requirement. Pests are major cause of crop yield
losses around the world, and a major player causing food shortage in the
developing countries as high yield losses are associated with these pests leading
to reduce rice yield in Nigeria and sub-Sahara Africa (Zakari, Ying and Song, 2014).
According to Estiati,(2019),
increasing crop yield and achieving farmers target, is only realizable if the
risk caused by pest are curtailed.
There
are several types of pests that negatively affect rice production. These pests,
as stated by Shazial (2020), can be categorized into three major groups which
are: insects, rodents and birds. However, Baudron et al., (2019) stated that these pests are likely to continue
causing great losses to cereal crop farmers in Africa, due to the fact that the
climatic condition of the region is good for pest growth and development.
Harrison et al., (2019) noted that
the African Union’s sustainable development goal number 7 (G7), targeted at
reducing poverty and hunger, may be difficult to achieve in the absence of
effective pest management strategies, since pests are envisaged to be imposing
negative influences on cereal crop production, consumers’ health, environmental
condition and export trade.
Currently,
majority of smallholder farmers in Africa rely on the conventional and their
traditional knowledge to manage pest problems, mainly by the use of synthetic
and botanical pesticides, even as Nigerian farmers who actively manage pests rely primarily on
chemical pesticides, but can be constrained by the cost
and availability of insecticides/pesticides (Banjo,
Lawal, Fapojuwo and Songonuga, 2013).
Use of pesticides to control pests predisposes farmers to harmful insecticide
contamination, and also destabilizes the ecosystem, because most of the
non-target organisms that would have been beneficial to the crops are being
killed (Kumela et al., 2019). Studies
by Sisay, Simiyu, Malusi, Likhayo, Mendesil, Elibariki and Tefera (2018) and
Kansiime et al., (2019) have shown
that most farmers are not aware of, or simply ignore, the dangers of
insecticides on human health and non-target insects.
For effective management of the dangerous
pests that are causing havoc to crops, farmers need a combination of indigenous
and scientific knowledge. It, therefore, implies
that the development of sustainable and environment-friendly control strategies
for pest is paramount to enhance production and improve health/environment.
In the context of sustainable agricultural
development in Nigeria, IPM comes to play. According
to Evie (2022), IPM is recognized as one of the most robust constructs to arise
in the agricultural sciences during the second half of the twentieth century
and according to Syarief, Gatot, Abdul, Toto (2018), is an extensive approach
which involves the use of all existing skills, techniques and practices such as
the combination of different control methods in a harmonious way to achieve
higher productivity. Day et al.,
(2017) had advised farmers to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices,
guided by cultural approaches which they are familiar with, as the best option
to manage pest in Nigeria.
A
study of IPM on Lepidopteran pest in rice, carried out by Babendreier, Hou,
Tang, Zhang, Vongsabouth, Win, Kang, Peng, Song, Annamalai, Horgan (2020),
reported that pest had been a major problem in rice farms in Asia but the implementation
of the IPM strategy reduced the infestation of pest, resulting to higher rice
yields. Adoption study of IPM in Indonesia by Andi (2020), showed that adoption
rate of IPM by farmers was high while Sadique (2020) study on farmers’
perception of IPM and determinants of adoption reported that the implementation
of IPM will be beneficial to farmers especially if their knowledge regarding
IPM is increased. More so, Muck (2015) noted in his study that by the practice
of IPM, pest problem in Nigeria can be reasonably mitigated in a sustainable
manner which may eventually reflect on the crop yield. More localized empirical
study on the adoption of IPM practices and understanding how it will reflect on
the yield of crop will be an important instrument to help farmers in Nigeria to
make informed decision on the use of this innovation known as IPM practices. It,
therefore, becomes necessary to carry out an empirical study to assess the
effect of use of IPM practices on yield of rice in South-East Region of
Nigeria.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In order to guide the stated problem,
the following research questions were pertinent.
i.
What are personal, social
and economic characteristics of the respondents?
ii.
Which are the most
prevalent pests that attack rice in South-East States?
iii. Are
the respondents’ aware of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practice?
iv.
What are the major sources
of information about IPM in the study area?
v.
What are the perceived
effects of pests on rice in the study area?
vi.
What is the yield of rice
produced before adoption of IPM practice?
vii. What
is the level of utilization of IPM practice by farmers in South-East?
viii. What
is the perceived effect of IPM practice on rice in the study area?
ix.
What is the yield of rice
produced after the use of IPM practice?
x.
What are the perceived
constraints in the use of IPM practice in the study area?
1.4 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The broad
objective of the study is to assess the effect of use of Integrated Pest
Management practice on yield of rice in South-East, Nigeria.
Specifically, the objectives of the
study are to;
i.
describe the personal,
social and economic characteristics of the respondents;
ii. ascertain
the most prevalent pests that attack rice in South-East States;
iii. ascertain
the awareness of farmers about Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practice;
iv. ascertain
the farmers’ sources of IPM information in South-East;
v. determine
the perceived effect of pests on rice in the study area;
vi. estimate
the yield of rice farmers before the adoption of IPM practice in the study
area;
vii. determine
the level of utilization of IPM practice by the respondents;
viii. determine
the perceived effects of IPM practice on rice in the study area;
ix. estimate
the yield of rice farmers after the use of IPM practice, and
x. ascertain
the perceived constraints in the use of IPM practice in South-East.
1.5 HYPOTHESES
The
study tested the following null hypotheses at 5% alpha level:
Ho1: Use of
IPM practice has no significant effect on the yield of rice in the study area.
Ho2: There
is no significant difference in the level of use of IPM practice among the
States in South-East.
Ho3: There
is no significance difference on the yield of rice produced using IPM across
the States in South-East.
Ho4: Selected
personal, social and economic characteristics of the respondents have no
significant effect on the yield of rice in the study area.
Ho5: There
is no significant difference on the yield of rice produced using IPM practice
and without using IPM practice.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
Agriculture is a business, and
whosoever that is involved in its practice has a major aim of having a bumper
harvest, generating more income, making higher profit and enjoying a better
living standard. Therefore, the farmer will always frown at anything, including
pest that will pose as an impediment towards realizing the target objective.
Moreso, Baudron et al., (2019) has
already stated that, pest is likely to continue causing great losses to rice
farmers in Africa of which South-East Nigeria is inclusive. Taking cognizance
of these facts, a study of this nature which is investigating the effect of use
of Integrated Pest Management on yield of rice in South-East, Nigeria will be
very relevant to the spectrum of stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
The significance of this research
cannot be over-emphasized. This is because the study will be valuable in the
following ways;
1. It will serve as a means of highlighting in
more organized and concrete form, the major pests of rice prevalent in
South-East States.
2. It
will equally ascertain farmers’ awareness of IPM and reveal extension agents’
contact with rice farmers in relation to dissemination of IPM package. This
will in no small measure enhance farmers’ relationship with extension agents
and encourage effective dissemination of IPM practices to farmers, leading to
regular increase in rice yield.
3. It will also help to assess the level of rice
farmers’ utilization of IPM practices to cushion the effect of pest attacks in
South-East Region of Nigeria.
4. It
will also provide relevant information on how utilization of IPM strategies by
farmers would influence yield of rice in South-East and Nigeria by extension.
5. The
study will also aid in exposing the constraints faced by farmers in
implementing Integrated Pest Management strategy and guide researchers in
developing an IPM package that will be suitable for rice farmers in South-East,
and Nigeria in general.
It is hoped that the recommendations
that will emanate from the study will be beneficial to the government and
policy makers in policy formulation because, they can depend on it in making
policies that can encourage the generation and utilization of IPM practices for
better yield which will help to promote food security and enhance better living
standard of the citizens.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The
study is limited to South-East Region of Nigeria. Three States among the five
States in the South-East were purposively selected for the study. This is due
to the fact that they were among the States in the region that are major
producers of rice. Furthermore, the scope of the study is limited to assessing
the effect of use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices on yield of
rice in South-East, Nigeria.
1.8
DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. Pests: These are destructive organisms
that have the ability of causing damage to crops. They include insects, birds
and rodents that destroy rice in the field
2. Rice: This is a cereal crop that
produce starchy grains used as food for man, feed for livestock and seeds for
planting.
3. Paddy rice: This is the harvested rice
with its grains/seeds and bran that has not been milled.
4. Grain/Seed: This is the part of the
rice that is used as food (grain) or planting material (seed)
5. Bran: This is the part of the rice that
is covering the grain/seed which is removed during processing/milling.
6. Rice farmers: These are people who are
involved in producing rice crop for different purposes. They include both men
and women that are in the business of cultivating rice.
7. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): This
is the combined use of chemical, cultural, biological and mechanical methods to
control pests in the farm.
8.
Chemical method:
This is the use of inorganic substances (pesticides) to control pests
9.
Cultural method:
This is the use of different traditional practices such as sprinkling of wood ash on plants,
crop rotation, intercropping, changing planting time, etc
to curtain the attack of pest in the farm.
10.
Biological method:
This is the use of natural enemies, developed resistant varieties and
bio-pesticides in
suppressing pest populations in the farm.
11. Mechanical/Physical method: This is the
use of hand and/or devices such as scarecrow, guns, catapult, etc to control
pest in the farm.
12. Bio-pesticides: These are organic
pesticides made from spores of micro-organisms such as fungi, bacteria, virus,
etc.
13.
Utilization: This is the act of
practicing or adopting IPM strategies by the farmers to control pest attack in
the farm.
14. Effect: This is the noticeable
result/outcome observed on the farm product, emanating from the use of IPM in
the farm.
15. Yield: This is the quantity of rice in
kg produced from the farm.
16. Assess: Act of determining the use and
effect of IPM practices after a careful study.
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