Farmers’ Knowledge and Perception of Termites and Termites Damage on Selected Rubber Plantations in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Termite’s infestation and damage of young rubber plantations and budded seedlings of rubber plants is a major insect pest constraint to rubber farming. The study, therefore, investigated farmers’ knowledge and perception of the ecology that could help in the formulation of sustainable termite management strategies in rubber plantations. The Surveys involved a purposive selection of 150 rubber farmers in three states (Ogun, Ondo, and Edo) of southern Nigeria, which is during the planting season in 2018. Structured questionnaires were used to elicit information on farmers’ perceptions and knowledge of termite, factors enhancing termite’ infestation and damage, temporal and spatial variability of termite in rubber plantations. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Respondents’ mean age was 50.8 years and the majority (82.9%) was male with 81.7% of the rubber farmers having more than five years of rubber farming experience. More than half (66.4%) of the respondents had privately-owned plantations. Results further show that respondents’ had low (42.5%) perception of termite attack. There was no significant relationship between respondents’ demographic characteristics (age and sex), rubber damage experience, identification of termite, rubber enterprise, knowledge of damage caused by termite, and their perception of damage caused by termite. The respondents had an unfavorable perception of termite and its damage to rubber plantation. Entomological extension services are further encouraged to boost farmers’ knowledge to avert, termite infestation, and loss.