Assessment of Farmers’ Knowledge and Use of Integrated Pest Management for Rice Production in Kebbi State

Integrated pest management provides a holistic, economically and environmentally sound approach to pest control in rice production, but its adoption among smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria remains limited due to knowledge and access constraints. This study assessed the knowledge and practice of integrated pest management (IPM) for rice production among farmers in Argungu, Bagudo, and Birnin Kebbi Local Government Areas of Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. A descriptive survey was conducted among 120 rice farmers selected by multistage random sampling. A structured questionnaire covering IPM awareness, component knowledge, and actual IPM practice adoption was administered and supplemented with field observation checklists. Results showed that 63.3 percent of respondents had heard of IPM, but detailed knowledge of all five IPM components (cultural, biological, mechanical, chemical, and monitoring) was held by only 18.3 percent. Cultural practices such as variety selection and crop rotation were practised by 71.7 percent and 54.2 percent respectively. Biological control was the least practised component (8.3 percent). Reliance on sole chemical insecticide application was reported by 57.5 percent, often without pest monitoring. Extension service contact in the preceding year was reported by only 29.2 percent of farmers. The study concludes that IPM knowledge is limited and practice is fragmented among Kebbi rice farmers. Recommendations include structured IPM farmer field school programmes, improved extension delivery, and affordable biopesticide demonstration plots to encourage knowledge-to-practice transfer.

Keywords: integrated pest management, rice farmers, Kebbi State, IPM adoption, extension service