American-Eurasian Journal of Scientific Research 3 (1): 1-6, 2008ISSN 1818-6785© IDOSI Publications, 2008

Corresponding Author: Dr. J. C. Obi, Department of Soil Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, Joseph Ayo BabalolaUniversity, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, Nigeria

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Effect of Termite Infestation on the Farming System Characteristics of an Endemic Area in the Guinea Savanna Region of Nigeria

J.C. Obi and A.O. Ogunkunle and N. T. Meludu1 1 2

Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria1

Department of Extension and Rural Sociology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria2

Abstract: Termite infestation is an important factor in the livelihood of the dwellers of savanna region ofNigeria. It demands appropriate attention in the characterisation of the dominant farming system of the area. This study evaluated the effect of termite infestation on some crop types and the constraints it imposes ontheir farming system. The study was conducted in Mokwa and Kontagora Local Government Areas (LGA) ofNiger State in the Guinea savanna of Nigeria and the instruments used were questionnaires and in-depthinterview. Structured questionnaires were administered on 251 farmers using stratified random samplingtechnique, to assess the extent of termite infestation and its effect on arable crop production in the area.Descriptive statistics were used to analyse their responses. About 93.2% of the respondents were full-timefarmers 74.0% did not exceed primary level education. Approximately 91.6% of the farmers have less than five(5) plots of land and 95.8% of the respondents have plots measuring less than five (5) hectares out of which54.6% measured less than one (1) hectare. The farmers that produce for sales and consumption, consumptionand sale alone were 85.1, 7.8 and 6.1% respectively. The only outlet for these is the rural market. The majorsource of labour available for the farmers is from the family. Termitaria were present in 75.0% of the farms.Termite infestation was highest in the farms during cropping season and increased with crop-type in the ordermaize>millet>guinea corn>cassava. All the farmers operate low-input, grain-based and rain-fed farming system.Termite infestation is a major production and livelihood constraint in the area, destroying crops both in the fieldand in the store and attack lingno-cellulotic components of their livelihood.

Key words: Termite infestation % Farming system % Guinea savanna % Livelihood constraint

INTRODUCTION resources. Therefore, variations in the characteristics of

A farming system is a population of individual farm endowment and family circumstances that constitute thesystems that have broadly similar resource base, socioeconomic and human element of the system.enterprise pattern, household livelihood and constraints Peculiarity of the study area is the high density ofand for which similar developmental strategies and termite infestation whose effect could be grouped intointerventions would be appropriate [1]. The resources agronomic, economic, social, environmental andavailable to farm families include land, water and common psychological. The agronomic influence includes the roleproperties (pond, grazing land and forest). To these basic of termite as pest [2-4] and soil modifiers [5, 6]. Thenatural resources could be added climate and biodiversity. economic aspect involves the destructive tendencies ofThese individual farm systems are characterized with the insect. This involves the overall destructivestructurally complex parts but with existent tendencies of the insect that includes feeding orinterrelationship between various components. The destruction of lingno-cellulotic materials rangingintegral part of these could be broadly grouped into from wood, furniture, books, clothes, etc. [7]. Termitesprevailing biophysical and socioeconomic components. were reported to dominate soil macrofauna in thePeculiarity of individual farm systems notwithstanding, savanna region [6, 8], but of particular interest is itsthese component parts converge at the inherent concentration in Niger State in the guinea savannaprevailing circumstances of the available natural region of Nigeria [9, 10].

individual farm systems arise from variations in resource

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The effects of termites as a result of high intensity Research questionsof infestation has become an important factor in thecharacterisation of the dominant farming system in the C What are the demographic characteristics of thestudy area as it affects their productivity and livelihood. respondents (farmers)? Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the C What proportion of the farmers has termiteeffect of termite infestation on the crop types, the infestation in their farms?constraints imposed on the farming system as a result C Do the high-density of termite mounds thatof the infestation and document the demographic characterize the area constitute major constraints tocharacteristics of the farm families. crop production?

MATERIALS AND METHODS termite-infested area?

Site description: Giant termite mounds are common techniques (indigenous / modern) in this area?features of the rural landscape of Niger State. Thesemounds are particularly numerous in the areas between In an attempt to answer these questions, theMokwa, Bida and Kontagora [10]. The occurrence covers following hypotheses were formulated.Mokwa, Lavun, Gbako, Bida and Agaie, Kontagora,Magama and Wushishi local government areas of Niger HypothesesState, measuring approximately 51,756.96 sq. km. It islocated between latitudes 8°30' N and 11°00' N and C Termite infestation of agricultural lands is a majorlongitudes 4°30' E and 6°30' E. Niger state has about the constraint to crop production. largest land area in Nigeria, occupying about 9% C Farm fields are small, fragmented and far from(about 76,000 sq. km.) of Nigeria’s total land area. The homestead as a result of high-density termitestudy was limited to Mokwa and Kontagora local mounds.government areas of the state. These two local C Many farm fields have been abandoned as a result ofgovernment areas are typical of the characteristics of termite infestation.the study region i.e. concentration of agricultural C Indigenous knowledge has not been successful inactivities, preponderance of termites and mounds, the management of termite-infested soils.relatively low population density (less than 33 people C Demographic characteristics significantly affect theper square kilometre [10]) and relatively at the middle productivity of the study area.(geographically) of the region of high concentration oftermite infestation (Kebbi, Niger and Kogi states). Target population, sample size and procedure: The target

Questionnaire administration: This process was aimed at families). Stratified random sampling procedure wasassessing the distribution, extent of spread, problems adopted. Each local government was divided into 75 unitsand constraints imposed by termite infestation on the based on discussion with the extension agents in bothlocality. Discussions were held with the Chief and Mokwa and Kontagora Local Government Areas (LGA)Assistant Chief Extension Officer of the Department of and 2 respondents were randomly sampled per unit. TheAgriculture and Natural Resources, Mokwa LGA and questionnaire was administered with the aid of the Villagewith the Zonal and Assistant Zonal Extension Officer Extension Agents (VEA).of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources ofKontagora LGA. The aim was to get the overall Mokwa LGA and Agricultural Development Programmeassessment of the incidence of termites (severity and (ADP) of Kontagora LGA confirmed the abundance ofdensity), their effects on crop production and livelihood termites, mounds and their menace in the area in particularand to validate the instrument. The questionnaire was and Niger State in general. They reported that termiteadministered on the local farmers in the study area. The activities constitute major constraints to the farmers, bothquestions cover personal details, farmland details, crop in the field and in the store as they destroy all cellulo-production, conceived production constraints and lignotic materials within reach. effects and role of governmental and non-governmental The questions in the instrument were discussed withorganizations in combating problems associated with the extension agents and clarifications made in-order totermite infestation. The questions raised and hypothesis ensure uniformity and accuracy in the documentation ofgenerated were as follows: responses. As part of the questionnaire design, the head

C Are there some advantages derived from planting on

C Are there some termite control management

population comprised farmers in the infested area (farm

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of each sample farm family was interviewed. The the respondents did not go beyond primary school. Thequestionnaire contained open and close-ended questions, results indicated that 43.0% of the respondents did not gowhich were administered directly and informally. The to school at all, 16.3% had informal education, while 14.7%responses were coded and subjected to descriptive attended primary school. About 91.6% of the respondentsstatistics. had less than 5 plots of farmlands that were generally far

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION of 95.8%) of the farms were less than 1 hectare and

Characteristics and distribution of the farmers: Out of a reported that their production was generally for sales andtotal of 300 farmers interviewed, 49 responses were consumption (86.1%), while the remaining 7.8 and 6.1% ofdiscarded as a result of poor documentation. Thus, 251 the respondents produced for consumption and saleresponses from 158 villages, comprising of 147 farmers alone respectively. from 87 villages in Mokwa and 104 farmers from 71villages in Kontagora Local Government Areas (LGAs) Spread of termite mounds: It was observed that aboutwere used for the study. The demographic characteristics 75% of the respondents had termite mounds in theirof the farmers in the study area are shown in Table 1. It farms, but larger proportion of 84.4% was found inwas observed that everyone in the villages was either a Kontagora compared to Mokwa where approximatelyfull time or part time farmer. Only 17 farmers (i.e. 6.8% of 65.6% of the farm had termitaria. The farmers reportedthe respondents) were civil servants (i.e. part time that they experienced different types of constraintsfarmers). Thus, the dominant occupation was farming. As from the infestation depending on the crop produced.the target respondents were heads of farm families, 87.9% They did not derive any benefit from the infestationwere males within the age range of 25 to 55 years. About (86.0%), nor do they know when the mounds first38.9% have been on this occupation for more than 20 appeared on their farms (75.7%). The entire respondentsyears while 27.5% have been on the occupation for reported that apart from farmland infestation that wasbetween 6 and 10 years. The remaining 33.6% of the prominent with the presence of termite mounds, attackrespondents represented those that have either practiced on other aspects of livelihood (i.e. celulo-lignotic materialfor less than 6 years or between 20 and 11 years. The including buildings, clothing, books and papers, wooddistribution of family sizes were 1-5 (30.8%), 6-10 (39.2%) and woody material, furniture etc.) is a commonand 10-15 (19.4%). In terms of level of education, 74.0% of occurrence.

from home (78.9%). Also, about 54.6 and 41.2% (i.e. total

between 1 and 5 hectares respectively. The respondents

Table 1: Demographic characteristics of the farmers (respondents) in the study area

Characteristics/respondents (%)

Age (years) 15-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 >55

6.6 34.8 36.1 15.2 7.4

Sex Male Female

87.9 12.1

Major occupation Farming Civil servant

93.2 6.8

Years of practice (Years) 1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 >25

9.7 27.5 15 8.9 15.4 23.5

Family size 1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 >25

30.8 39.2 19.4 4.6 2.1 3.8

Level of education None Informal Primary Secondary Tertiary

43.5 16.5 14.9 10.1 14.9

Number of farmland (farms) 1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 >21

91.6 6.8 0.4 0.8 0.4

Size of farmland (hectare) <1 1-5 6-10 11-25 26-30 >30

54.6 41.2 2.5 0 0.4 1.3

Type of production Home consumption Sales Sale and consumption

7.8 6.1 86.1

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Table 2: Percentage of farmers engaged in production of the common crops in Kontagora and Mokwa local government areas

%

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Crop Mokwa and Kontagora (n = 251) Kontagora (n = 104) Mokwa (n = 147)

Maize (Zea mays L.) 82.5 89.4 77.6

Cowpea (Vignea unguiculata) 63.3 69.2 59.2

Groundnut(Arachis hypogea) 49.4 51.0 48.3

Pepper (Capsicum spp.) 9.6 2.9 14.3

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) 10.4 3.8 15.1

Amaranthus caudatus 8.4 1.9 12.9

Melon (Cirullus colocynthis) 29.1 3.8 46.9

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) 21.9 4.8 34.0

Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) 0.8 0.0 1.4

Soybeans (Glycine max) 2.8 2.9 2.7

Guinea corn (Sorghum biclor) 75.3 63.4 83.7

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) 44.2 4.8 72.1

Okra (Albemulchus esculentus) 3.6 5.8 2.0

Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) 31.9 27.9 34.7

Rice (Oriza sativa) 14.7 10.6 17.7

Sugar (Saccharum officinarum) 0.4 0.0 0.7

Garden egg (Solanum melongena) 0.8 1.0 0.0

They noticed that intensity of infestation increased cane and garden egg as accompanying crops except riceduring the rainy season (after planting and before with approximately 14.7% producers.harvest) and decreased (during the dry season) after The major sources of farm labour were hired andharvest as previously reported by Umeh and Ivbijaro [4]. family effort and that their yields were relatively lowThe farmers reported that incidence of termite was highest because of low input system and low fertility status of thein maize, millet and guinea corn and cassava farms in soils. The quantity of land cultivated and area of each plotdecreasing intensity. were relatively low. Large quantities of products were lost

The dominant farming system in the study area: The local or traditional. The products were normally sold toproportion of farmers that produce the different types of the middlemen at a relatively low rate at the remote or ruralcrops (cereals and legumes) in the study area (Table 2) markets. Therefore, the farming system could be describedindicates that the cereals include maize, guinea corn and as a low input, low output grain based rain fed, southernmillet cultivated by about 82.5, 75.3 and 31.9% of the guinea savanna farming system. It could be classified asfarmers respectively. Comparing the proportion of the rain fed farming system in savanna area of low resources.farmers that grow maize in the two LGAs indicatescultivation of maize in Kontagora (89.4%) is more than Major constraints to crop production in termite infestedthat in Mokwa (77.6%), while for guinea corn, Mokwa areas: The factors enumerated as constraints to crop(83.7%) is more than Kontagora (63.4%). The difference in production included lack of credit facilities, scarcity ofthe population that produce maize was negligible. fertilizer, unavailability of tractors, incidence of termiteLegumes grown in the area include cowpea, groundnut and striga, insect and pest infestation, lack of good andand melon with approximately 63.3, 49.4 and 29.1% of the improved seeds, unavailability or high cost of labour,farmers respectively. Approximately, 44.2 and 21.9% grow unavailability of assistance from government,yam and cassava respectively, but larger proportion of the unavailability of chemicals, poor storage and marketyam growers was found in Mokwa with about 72.1% facilities. The effect of termites is more profound as theycompared to 4.8% in Kontagora. Also about 34.0% of attack the crops in the field and in the store and alsoMokwa farmers cultivate cassava compared to 4.8% in destroy most of the farmers’ personal belongings. TheseKontagora. Less than 10.5% of the farmers grow pepper, constraints have led to highly reduced area of arable landtomato, amaranthus, sweet potato, soybean, okra, sugar and number of farms cultivated per farmer. Consequently,

as a result of poor storage facilities that were normally

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the resultant loss or low crop yield, increased production Labozhi, Ndayako, Kodan, Edugi, Muwo, Wabi, Takuma,cost and discouragement. The farmers combat these Kpaki, Kodan, Bokani, Tika, Gungegi, Tapu, Emi tifin,problems through acquisition of loans especially Bokani Tapu, Emi Tako, Dagha, Ezhi, Kimbo, Emi Zhistu,from moneylenders at exorbitant interest rates, use of Emi Gbanta, Emi Lakota, Emi Koso, Emi Dingigba, Emiinsecticides, trapping and scaring of animals, use of family Ndamukunta, Emi Basanta, Emi Janfulugi, Turrah, emiand personal labour and input generation and seeking of Liman, Emi Tako, Emi Shabako, Emi Tssuanka, Tutabo,advice from the village extension agents. Ebigi, Tunga Hausa, Kpategi, Ekosa Muwo, Lafiagi Ebigi,

The major crops grown were maize, millet, cowpea, Tunga ruwa, Koma Bonmi, Tsafa, Tatabu, Takuma,groundnut and guinea corn. These crops have been Afuwagi, Ibba, Ndeshi, Lufu, Ntakogi, Efu Ndatwankwa,reported to be highly suitable for savanna ecology [11]. Gudugi, Efu Liman, Koshaba, Emi Gozanzhi, EmiOther crops grown in the area in relatively small quantities Twachizhi, Efu Twayen, Tyabo, Dankogi, Kosoko, Nkupa,include pepper, tomato, amaranthus, melon, cassava, Bokota, Nakupa, Tunga Numa.sweet potato, soybeans, yam, okro, sorghum, rice, sugarcane and garden egg. These crops are grown mainly as Kontagora: Kontagora, Rafin Gora, Masa’a, Auna, Bussa,intercrops and the combinations vary based on the Kakihum, Kisi, Tunga Waye, Wuwa, Tunga Bako,farmers’ preference. Kang [12] reported that traditional Shagwa, Tungan Mongora, Ragadan, Mommo, Maretu,cropping systems vary in Sub-Saharan Africa and have Farin Shinge, Kaufin Waya, Kulho, Kura, Subu, Angwadeveloped in response to the prevailing soil and climatic Arewa, Babban Rami Hayi, Masuli, Tungan Wawa,conditions, socio-economic and ethnological preferences. Utachu, Gwagwade, Bangi, Kekin Lan, Sahoma, Ujau,

Investment capital and inputs are acquired mainly Sanjir, Jamaare, Rijau, Tunga Rini, Darga, Nakacheri,through family effort and borrowing from moneylenders, Tunga Anini, Dukku, Uganda, Kwangwara, Gawuri,while labourers are hired to complement family effort. The Malela, Dongon Fadama, Shambo, Umngwam Zagi, Gadoproblem associated with loans from moneylenders is that Mera, Narung, Lioji, New Bussa, kainji, Tungan Gari,the interest rates are normally to high to be repaid Tungan Kawo, Salka South, Salka East, Salka North, Salkacompared with the benefits associated, with the prevailing West, Nassarawa, Tungan Jika, Beri, Kaboji, Madobiya,farming system and thus the farmers remain poor and Karamin Rami, Ragada, Kuumbashi, Magutu Dan baba,helpless. Few plots of land are cultivated per farmer. The Maigoge, Kamfin Bobi, Shadadi,Indago, Shirigberia,area of each plot is relatively small and the fertility status Gwette.of the soils generally low. These result in relatively lowoutputs (yield). Large quantities of the products are lost REFERENCESas a result of poor storage facilities that are normally localor traditional, while some parts are consumed at home. 1. FAO, 2001. Farming system and poverty: ImprovingHowever, the remaining parts are normally sold to farmers’ livelihoods in a changing world. FAO Rome.middlemen at relatively low rates in remote or rural market 2. Saxena, R.C., 1989. Insecticides from the neem. In:situations. Therefore, the farming system could be Insecticides of Plant Origin. Amadon, J.T., B.J.R.described as a low-input, low-output, grain based rain fed Philoge'ne and P. Morand (Eds.). ACS Symposiumfarming system in area of low resources [1]. The perceived Series No. 387. Washington, DC, Am. Chem. Soc.,treat of termite infestation creates some psychological fear pp: 110-135.of possible attack on either the farm produce or 3. Logan, J.M.W., R.H. Cowie and T.G. Wood, 1990.household properties. These generally affect the overall Termite (Isoptera) control in agriculture andlivelihood of the farmers and dwellers of the study area. forestry by non chemical methods: A Review.

APPENDIX 1 4. Umeh, V.C. and M.F. Ivbijaro, 1999. Effects of termite

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