This study examined the knowledge and practice of food grain storage and pest management by traders' in markets
in Akure metropolis Ondo State, Nigeria between February and May, 2018. Storage facilities, pest problems and the
controls adopted by merchants were also investigated. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting
grain merchants in five different markets (Erekesan, Arakale, Isikan, Orita guru and FUTA off campus markets).
Descriptive statistics was used to explain the socio-economic characteristics and trading activities of the
merchants. The results showed that 16.67%, 3.33%, 5%, 41.67% and 33.33% of the merchant had no formal
education, adult literacy, primary, secondary and tertiary education, respectively. Attack by insect pests was mostly
on cowpeas and maize. Although the traders generally observed moderate pest infestation in millet, while
infestations of cowpea and maize grains were severe. Insect pests found by the traders attacking stored cereal grains
and pulses are Callosobruchus maculatus, Sitophiluszeamais, and S.oryzea. 50%of the traders applied pesticides to
protect stored food grains and control pest infestation; 41.67% used botanicals like dried pepper, Alligator pepper,
neem seeds, cheese wood, Monodora myristica and Pipper guinenese. The study of some of the control measure
(botanicals) adopted by the merchants showed some level of potency against all the tested insect pests. The
botanicals (P. guineense, M. myristica, Capsicum frutescens, C. annum and A. melegueta) can be utilized as
potential substitute to synthetic insecticides for the management of S. zeamais, S. oryzae and C. maculatus
infestation on stored products as a result of high mortality of adult insects observed.
Keywords:Survey; Food Merchant, Callosobruchus maculatus;Sitophiluszeamais; S. oryzae; Piper
guineense;Monodoramyristica; Capsicum frutescens; Capsicum annum; Afromomummelegueta
PAPER TITLE :ASSESSMENT OF SOME PLANT INSECTICIDES AS CONTROL MEASURES ADOPTED BY GRAIN MERCHANTS IN AKURE METROPOLIS, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.
APPLIED TROPICAL AGRICULTURE | VOLUME 23 NUMBER 2 2018
Paper Details
- Author(s) : *Ileke, K. D. and Dare, T. I.
- Abstract: