INVESTIGATION ON THE MILLIPEDE DAMAGE OF CASSAVA AND YAM IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA: FARMERS INFORMATION

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1 INVESTIGATION ON THE MILLIPEDE DAMAGE OF CASSAVA AND YAM IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA: FARMERS INFORMATION Uwasomba C. F., Ezulike T. O., Nwauzor E. C. and Udealor A. National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria ABSTRACT A thematic survey was conducted in Rivers State agricultural zones in order to establish the incidence of millipede and damages on cassava and yam. Information was gathered through interview using structured questionnaires. Majority of the farmers fall within the ages of years (52.8%), male (75.3%), married (98.3%) and educated (92.7%). All the farmers cultivate cassava and yam, 100% and 76.4%, respectively. Majority of the cassava farmers (75.4%) grow improved varieties (TMS and TMS 30572). The major pest reported on these crops is millipedes which eat up the early sprouting/germination succulent part of the planted cassava cuttings and yam seeds. They feed and bore holes of various shapes in the cassava roots, matured and immature yam tubers thereby predisposing them to rot and 78.1% of the respondents have no control method. Keywords: cassava, yam, farmers, millipede damage, rivers state, Nigeria. INTRODUCTION In the past few years, farmers from Rivers State of Nigeria have raised alarm that millipede are fast becoming a major pest of cassava and yam. Millipedes which belong to the class Diplopoda are cylindrical with 25 to 100 segments and most segments bear two pairs of legs. These arthropods are found in dark, humid environments; under leaves and bark, in woodland and in basements of homes. When disturbed, they curl up into a characteristic spiral shape. Millipedes feed mostly on decaying organic matter and therefore, are beneficial to humans. However, most people consider them pests because of their mere presence in homes. Farm visit and field experiment conducted in North-East Uganda have shown that many crops species are hosts of harmful arthropods including millipede. But millipedes mostly affect sweet potato, maize and groundnut. Interviewed farmers also named cassava as host. The main culprits were Omopyge sudanica Kraus (family: Odontopygidae) and Spirotreptus ibanda Silvestra (family: Spirotreptidae). (Ebregt et al., 2004a, 2004b and 2005). The specific objectives of this study is to carry out a thematic survey of millipede problem in Rivers State in order to establish the incidence, period of invasion, type, extent of damage, stage of crops at damage and to initiate friendly control strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thematic survey was carried out in Rivers State agricultural zones for millipede problems of cassava and yam. The survey covered six Local Government Areas (LGAs) randomly selected from Rivers State agricultural zones namely; Abua/Odual, Ahoada, Emoha, Etche, Ikwerre and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGAs. The data were collected using interview method with structured questionnaire. The questionnaire covered: a) Farmer s characteristics b) Socio-economic studies c) Agronomic and management practices d) Entomological studies. Thirty questionnaires were planned for each of the six locations (i.e., a total of 180 respondents). However, 159 respondents were eventually interviewed. The analyses of data were by descriptive statistics. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Socio-economic studies Characteristics of respondents Majority of the respondents (52.8%) fall within years of age, while 47.2% were more than 40 years of age. The results showed that majority of the respondents were male (75.3%) while females constitute 24.7% (Table-1). The results also showed that majority (98.3%) of the respondents were married while 1.7% was single. 363

2 Table-1. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to sex, age and marital status. Sex Age Marital status M F < >40 Single Married Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, 2010; M = Male; F = Female. Majority of the farmers (90.7%) were from monogamous home while 9.3% were polygamous (Table- 2). Generally, majority of the respondents (49.6%) have between six to ten children while 42.4% and 8.0% of the respondents have less than five and greater than ten children, respectively. The result also showed that majority (64.1%) of the respondents have a family size of six to ten while 22.2% and 13.7% have less than five and greater than ten, respectively. Table-2. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to family type, number of children and family size. Family type No. of children Family size M P < >10 < >10 Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, 2010; M = monogamy; P = polygamy Formal education and major source of income Majority of the farmers (64.6%) attended formal education for 1-12years representing the primary and secondary school. 28.1% have post secondary education while 7.3% do not have any formal education (Table-3). The level of education in these Local Government Areas guarantees easy transfer of improved agricultural technologies to farmers. The results also showed that farming is the major source of income (71.7%) while traders and Civil Servants constitute 10.6% and 17.7%, respectively. 364

3 Table-3. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to level of education major source of income. Formal education Major source of income Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, 2010; 1 0 = no education; 2 0 = primary; 3 0 = secondary; 4 0 = tertiary; 5 0 = farming; 6 0 = traders; 7 0 = civil servant Agronomy Awareness All the farmers (100%) are aware of cassava and yam, only 100% and 76.4%, respectively cultivate them (Table-4). Majority of the cassava farmers (75.4%) grow improved varieties, which are differentiated into TMS (30.2%) and TMS (45.2%). The results indicate that 95.1% of the yam farmers grown local best while 4.9% grow improved varieties. Table-4. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to awareness, cultivation of cassava, yam and varieties grown. Awareness Cultivation of crops (%) Variety grown (%) of both crops (%) Cassava Yam Cassava Yam Yes No Yes No Yes No TMS TMS Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, 2010; 1 0 = Improved variety; 2 0 = Local best Majority of the respondents (51.8%) have less than 20 years farming experience (Table-5) except in Ahoada where 90.9% of the respondents have greater than 20years farming experience. The result also showed that the cropping pattern practiced by majority of the respondents (97.8%) is intercropping while 2.2% engage in mono-cropping. 69.3% of the respondent farm on less than two hectares of land while 30.7% farm on land greater than two hectares. 365

4 Table-5. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to years of farming experience, cropping pattern and farm size. Farming Cropping pattern Farm size (H) experience (years) <20 >20 M I <2 >2 Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, 2010; M = monocropping; I = intercropping Seedbed preparation method and planting materials Generally, 51.8%, 46.0% and 2.2% of the respondents plant cassava/yam on flat, mound and ridge, respectively (Table-6). Results indicate that 99.3% of the respondents prepare the land manually while 0.7% use tractor. Majority of the respondents (81.5%) get their planting materials from old farms, relations or market while 18.5% get from ADP/AGIP etc. Table-6. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to method, equipment for seedbed preparation and sources of planting materials. Seedbed preparation method Equipment for seedbed preparation Mound Ridge Flat Manual Tractor Animal traction Sources of planting materials A 0 B 0 Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, 2010; A 0 = old farms/relations/market; B 0 = ADPs/AGIP etc All the respondents (100%) planted on upland areas (Table-7) while majority of them (78.8%) prepare the seedbed between February and May. The result also showed that 98.9% of the respondents plant their crops between February and May. 366

5 Table-7. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to planting area, seedbed preparation time and planting time. Seedbed preparation Planting area time Planting time Upland Swampy FM JS OJ FM JS OJ Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, 2010; FM = February - May; JS = June - September; OJ = October - January Planting materials storage, planting distance, fertilizer and weed control Majority of the cassava farmers (98.9%) and yam farmers (99.3%) store their planting materials for less than 5 days and 5 months, respectively before planting (Table- 8). Results indicate that cassava farmers (97.6%) and yam farmers (96.5%) plant their crops using planting distance of 1m x1m. Table-8. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to planting materials storage and planting distance. Planting materials storage Planting distance Cassava (days) Yam (months) Cassava Yam <5 >5 <5 > Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, 2010; 80 = 1m x 1m; 9 0 = 75cm x 75cm; 10 0 = 1m x 50cm Majority of the respondents (93.5%) do not use fertilizer while 6.5% use fertilizer (Table-9). Result also showed that 98.8% of the respondents weed their farm manually, while 1.2% uses herbicides. 367

6 Table-9. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to fertilizer usage and weed control method. Fertilizer usage Weed control method Yes No Manual Chemical Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, Entomology All the respondents (100%) indicated millipede as the major pest of cassava and yam (Table-10). Result showed that 25.5% and 11.0% of cassava farmers also complained about the damage of grasshoppers and termites, respectively. Results also indicate that yam farmers (86.5%) gave yam beetle as a major pest. Table-10. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to major pests of cassava and yam. Cassava Yam Yam Millipedes Grasshoppers Termites Millipedes Cricket beetle Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, 2010 Majority of the cassava farmers (80.7%) indicated that cassava are damaged during sprouting while 19.3% said it is damaged during rooting (Table-11). 56.5% of yam farmers said yam is damaged during germination while 45.5% said it is damaged during tuberization and maturity. Result also showed that the period of attack is February and May with peak infestation in March as indicated by the majority of the cassava farmers (76.0%) and yam farmers (62.5%). 368

7 Table-11. Percentage distribution of respondents in local government areas according to stage of crops at damage and periods of attack. Stage of crops at damage Periods of attack Cassava Yam Cassava Yam FM JS OJ FM JS OJ Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, 2010; 1 0 = sprouting; 2 0 = rooting and maturity; 3 0 = germination; 4 0 = tuberization and maturity; FM = February - May; JS = June - September; OJ = October - January The millipede and nature of damages done Majority of the respondents (81.5%) indicated that millipede eat up the bud during sprouting and germination (Table-12) resulting to low establishment and subsequently low yield while 18.5% revealed that millipede feed and bore holes of different shapes and sizes on the mature and immature cassava root and yam tubers, thereby predisposing them to disease and reduction in market value. Table-12. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to nature of damages done by millipedes to cassava and yam. Nature of damages Crops Part attacked They eat up the early sprouting/germination succulent part of the planted cassava cuttings and yam seeds Feeding and boring holes of various shapes in the cassava roots, matured and immature yam tubers thereby predisposing them to rot Cassava/ Yam Cassava/ Yam Source: Field survey data, Underground planted cuttings/seeds Underground mature and immature root and tubers Abua/ Odual Ahaoda East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni Mean All of the respondents (100%) indicated that the type of millipede causing this attack is the small and tiny millipedes (Table-13). Result showed that majority of the respondents (80.5%) rated the extent of damage as high, while 19.5% rated it to be moderate. Result also indicated that 78.1% of the respondents have no control strategy, 19.1% use Apron Star while 2.6% use solution of kerosene and Camphor. 369

8 Table-13. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to type of millipede, extent of damage and indigenous control strategies. Type of millipede Extent of damage Big Small Low Moderate High Indigenous control strategies No control Apron star Control Kerosene and camphor Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, Other crops attacked by millipede Majority of the respondents (63.5%) indicated that millipede does not attack any other crop (Table-14) while 14.7%, 12.8%, 6.8% and 2.2% of the respondents said that millipede attack cocoyam telferia, maize and sweet potato, respectively. Table-14. Percentage distribution of respondents in various local government areas according to other crops attacked. Other crops attacked Sweet None Cocoyam Maize Telferia potato Abua/Odual Ahoada East Emohua Etche Ikwerre Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Mean Source: Field survey data, CONCLUSIONS From the findings, it is therefore recommended that intensive research projects using botanicals and synthetic pesticides to control millipede and yam beetle attack be carried out and transferred to the farmers in the study area. This will enable the farmers improve on their socio-economic well-being. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to acknowledge the immense contributions of National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike for making available the resources needed for the accomplishment of this study. We also thank Mrs. Uzoamaka Chukwudi Uwasomba for typing this paper. REFERENCES Ebregt E., P. C. Struik, P. E. Abidin and B. Odongo. 2004a. Farmers information on sweet potato production and millipede infestation in north-eastern Uganda. Associations between spatial and temporal crop diversity and the level of pest infestation. NJAS-wageningen journal of life science. 52:

9 Ebregt E., P. C. Struik, P. E. Abidin and B. Odongo. 2004b. Farmers information on sweet potato production and millipede infestation in north-eastern Uganda. II. Pest incidence and indigenous control strategies. NJASwageningen journal of life science. 52: Ebregt E., P. C. Struik, B. Odongo and P. E. Abidin. 2005c. Pest damage in sweet potato, groundnut and maize in north-eastern Uganda with special reference to damage by millipede (Diplopoda). NJAS- wageningen journal of life science. 53: Lawrence R.F The Centipedes and Millipedes of Southern Africa. A Guide. Balkema, Cape Town, South Africa. p Mwabvu T. 1998a. Food preference and coprophagy in a tropical millipede. Journal of African Zoology. 112: Mwabvu T. 1998b. Laboratory observations of the feeding of a tropical millipede. Alloporus uncinatus (Attems). Journal of African Zoology. 112: Uwasomba C.F., Nwauzor E.C., Ehisianya C.N., Ezulike T.O., Udealor A. and Chukwu U.M Economic Pests of root crops in Nigeria and their control. Proceedings of the 44 th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. pp