FACTORS INFLUENCING PEST MANAGEMENT DECISIONS AMONG MAIZE FARMING HOUSEHOLDS

Research background: Poor pest management decisions in crop production highly pronounced in most developing countries including Nigeria, result in huge crop losses, human health challenges and environmental degradation, detrimental to sustainable agriculture, food sufficiency and security. Identifying the factors influencing pest management decisions among maize farming households and providing effective solutions by relevant stakeholders can reduce crop losses and reduce the harmful effect to human health and the environment due to harmful pest management practices. Purpose of the article: The research was carried out to determine the factors influencing pest management decisions among maize farming households in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, in order to provide effective and appropriate solutions capable of enhancing pest management decisions and invariably reducing crop losses due to pests, as well as reduce the harmful effect to human health and the environment caused by harmful pest management and control practices. Methods: Multistage sampling technique was the sampling method used, where 324 maize farmers were correctly sampled as respondents for this study. Primary data were collected from the respondents using a well-structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multinomial probit model. The multinomial probit model was used to identify factors that influence pest management decisions. Findings, value added & novelty: The study revealed the use of chemical pesticides as the most used pest management practice among maize farming households in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, while the use of integrated pest management practices was about the least used. Also, result from multinomial probit analysis of the study showed that gender, access to extension services, age and level of education were significant factors that influenced pest management decisions. The study, therefore, recommends the need for relevant non-governmental organisations and government ministries/agencies to engage in the provision of educational facilities and incentives to crop farmers, more robust agricultural extension programmes, input subsidies and farmer field schools, targeted at enhancing pest management decisions in crop production, which can be vital to sustainable and maximized agricultural production, human health and the environment.