Enhancing sustainable environmental management through indigenous pest and diseases control practices by Ofada rice growers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Sustainable indigenous agricultural development for smallholder farmers entails the values placed on the use of indigenous knowledge and methods that depend on such to maintain productivity and better output for the Nigerian teeming population. The study analyzed the different indigenous pests and diseases control methods used by ‘ofada’ rice growers. Multi stage sampling technique was used in sampling 120 respondents and primary data were obtained using interview guide. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s product moment correlation. The study reveals that majority of the growers were between 20 to 60 years old. Most were male, married and had 4 to 15 multi-generational household members from which 75% of the labor use on the farm was derived. Types of indigenous pest control methods used by ‘ofada’ rice growers include the use of scare crows, traps, burning or slashing of debris/grass, removal of unwanted weeds, repeated tilling. Furthermore, 72.5% of the growers affirmed that most of the methods used were effective in helping to combat pests on their fields. Also, growers were of the view that some of the indigenous pest and diseases control methods were cost effective, agro ecologically friendly and less hazardous to human health. Some constraints identified were lack of proper documentation of indigenous pest control methods and that most farmers were unwilling to divulge some methods used. There existed significant relationships between the use of indigenous pest control method, age, occupational experience and educational status. It is recommended that immediate steps should be taken to collect, document and preserve the indigenous methods used by ofada rice growers in controlling pest.   Key words: Knowledge, indigenous, local, modern, farmers, sustainability.