Farmers’ Utilization of Indigenous Knowledge Techniques for the Control of Cocoa Pests and Diseases in Ekiti State, Nigeria

There is a high level of pests and diseases infestation in cocoa farms in Nigeria which has resulted in a huge loss in cocoa output. Extension has been found as a veritable and vital source of technical and useful Agricultural information towards sustainable Agricultural development, but its activities are being curtailed by its low number compared to farmers’ population in the country. It is in view of this that the study examined farmers’ utilization of indigenous knowledge techniques for the control of cocoa pests and diseases in Ekiti State Nigeria. The study spanned through January 2011 and July 2012. It specifically ascertained the socio-economic characteristics of the cocoa farmers in the study area, the indigenous control practices of the farmers, sources of information on indigenous methods of cocoa pests and diseases control and examined the effects of extension activities on the utilization of indigenous methods for cocoa pests and diseases control. A purposive random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoa farmers in the study area. Data was collected using a validated questionnaire and data collected was analysed using means, frequencies, percentages, chi- square and Person product moment correlation. Findings from the study revealed that majority (81 percent) of the farmers were males, 60 percent was above 50 years of age, and majority (75 percent) was married. A large percentage (75.8 percent) of the farmers had formal education. A large percentage (88 percent) received information on indigenous control methods from their parents and grandparents. The result from the study revealed that there was a significant relationship between sex (X2= 4.253, P≤0.05) and the religion (X2=19.160, P ≤0.05) of the respondents and the use of indigenous control methods. Similarly, findings revealed that there was a significant relationship between yield(r= 0.325, P ≤0.05), cost of pesticides (r= 0.258, P ≤0.05), income (r= 0.276, P ≤0.05) and farm size (r= 0.828, P ≤0.05) of the respondents and the use of indigenous methods of controlling diseases. There was no significant relationship between extension activities(r= 0.716, P ≤0.05) and farmers’ use of indigenous knowledge. There is the need for extension workers and policy makers to study the farmers’ attitudes, cultural universe and skills in order to deal with them effectively for improved cocoa production.