Level of Awareness of Traditional and Orthodox Methods of Pests Control Among Vegetable Farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Author's Information:

I. J. Udousung

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension kwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
 

I. A. Akpabio

Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Uyo, Nigeria
 

I. U. Umoh

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension kwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
 

S. B. Akpan

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension kwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Vol 02 No 06 (2025):Volume 02 Issue 06 June 2025

Page No.: 48-56

Abstract:

Pest control poses a considerable challenge for vegetable producers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, highlighting the necessity for an assessment of awareness regarding both traditional and orthodox pest management strategies. This research undertook a comparative analysis of these methods, collecting survey data from 120 vegetable farmers—60 practicing traditional methods and 60 employing orthodox techniques. The findings indicate a significant gender imbalance, with 65.00% of those using traditional methods being female, as opposed to 61.67% of those implementing orthodox methods. The average farming experience was recorded as 14.40 years for traditional farmers and 14.25 years for their orthodox counterparts, indicating a reliance on accumulated knowledge in making pest management decisions. The study demonstrated that vegetable farmers exhibited considerable awareness of certain orthodox techniques, particularly pesticides (x̅ = 1.87), biological control (x̅ = 1.87), fungicides (x̅ = 1.80), and rodenticides (x̅ = 1.80). In contrast, the most frequently employed traditional pest control methods among vegetable farmers in the region included hand-picking (x̅ = 1.97), wood ash (x̅ = 1.88), scarecrows (x̅ = 1.80), neem extracts (x̅ = 1.75), crop rotation (x̅ = 1.53), and companion planting (x̅ = 1.52). The study recommends the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies and enhanced access to extension services to foster sustainable agricultural practices.

KeyWords:

Pesticide, farmers, vegetable, orthodox, awareness, Nigeria

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