Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #27

I want to begin by appreciating the efforts of the entire Steem-Agro team @xkool24, @ruthjoe, @ahsansharif, @muhammad-ahmad, @djanita, @imohmitch and @huraira50. For their continuous drive to promote agriculture through meaningful contests. Your encouragement is helping farmers and writers like me to share knowledge and experiences that truly matter.

A special thanks also goes to @hive-118902, the organizing community behind this initiative. This contest on Pest Management is timely and essential, especially for farmers battling pest threats daily.

I often say to my few fellow farmers that farming is like preparing for war because you plant with one eye on the soil and the other watching for the enemy. And one of the biggest enemies every farmer dreads? Pests.

Whether you’re growing vegetables behind your compound which is a thing many farmers like myself down here love doing or managing a 3-acre farm in the village, the threat of pests is real and it doesn’t take long for an infestation to wipe out your sweat.

Pest management, in simple terms, is the process of monitoring, controlling and preventing pests from damaging crops, livestock and stored farm produce. If I am not mistaken, that definition must have covered vital part of pest management which I will be talking about. It’s not just about buying chemicals and spraying them blindly. No. It’s a combination of observation, timing, traditional knowledge and sometimes, tough decision-making.

In Nigeria, pest management means being alert and proactive. The way a tomato farmer in Jos (state) handles pests is different from how a cassava grower in Cross River (state) does. But one thing is never changing. Which is, you must act fast or you’ll lose everything.

A. Insect Pests

1 Stem Borers.

Primary Attack: maize and rice farms

Nature: Burrow into the stem and block water/nutrient flow.

Detection: Middle leaves dry up; holes in stems.

Solution: Early planting; I sometimes use Cypermethrin or ash mixed with ground pepper.

2 Whiteflies & Aphids

Nature: They suck plant juice and cause leaf damage.

Detection: Curled leaves, sticky residue, tiny white insects under leaves.

Solution: Neem oil spray or ordinary soapy water works fine for me.

3 Armyworms

Nature: They attack maize mostly at night, eating up leaves quickly.

Detection: Leaf damage and black droppings.

Solution: Hand-picking them at night with a torch, and neem-water spray.

4 Grasshoppers

Nature: Feed on leaves, mostly during the dry season.

Detection: Leaves appear torn or chewed.

Solution: I use shiny CDs, tins, and dry pepper powder around the farm.

5 Mealybugs.

Primary Attack: Cassava & citrus

Nature: They cause stunted growth by sucking sap.

Detection: White clusters near the stem; leaves become sticky.

Solution: I prune affected parts and spray garlic/soap solution.

B. Rodents

1 Rats and Mice.

Primary Attack: Storage.

Nature: They feed on stored grains and chew through bags.

Detection: Holes in bags, rat droppings, noise at night.

Solution: I store grains in drums and use rat gum or traps.

C. Birds

1 Quelea Birds

Primary attack: Rice and millet farms.

Nature: Flock in hundreds and eat ripening grains.

Detection: They attack early morning or evening.

Solution: I use scarecrows, catapults, and tie polythene bags on sticks.

D. Soil-Borne Pests

1 Nematodes.

Primary Attack: Yam, cassava and tomato.

Nature: Attack roots from underground.

Detection: Wilting plants, twisted or rotting roots.

Solution: Crop rotation and adding poultry manure to the soil.

E. Storage Pests.

1 Weevils

Nature: Eat stored grains and reduce market value.

Detection: Grain dust, weight loss, damaged beans.

Solution: Dry properly, mix with dry pepper or neem leaves.

F. Grain Beetles

Nature: Bore through stored grains.

Detection: Small holes in grains, dust.

Solution: I sun-dry grains and store them in tight containers or metal drums.

In 2021, I joined my uncle in one of his farm tending his one-and-a-half plot cassava and maize farm in okopedi, Okobo LGA, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. That year, we had invested everything: from finances to all necessary physical activities in preparation to having a great harvest because the farm business was proving to be a strong backbone in Nigeria economy and the hope was to have a great year of outstanding great harvest. My uncle bought improved maize seeds, the soil properly tilled, and even planted early to beat the rains.

But as the third month got approached, the leaves of the maize started curling and showing brown holes. I thought it was lack of nutrients, even my uncle thought so. Until I noticed small grey worms under the leaves. Armyworms had arrived. As farmers, we felt bad but we didn’t panic. Here’s how we handled it, step by step:

i. Physical Control

We started by handpicking visible worms early in the morning. It was stressful but necessary. We destroyed them by crushing them or tossing them into a kerosene-soaked tin.

ii. Botanical Solution

We turned to the age-old dogoyaro (neem) leaf method. We boiled the leaves with garlic and soaked the mixture overnight. By morning, we poured it into a sprayer and applied it directly to the affected crops. This helped slow down the spread.

iii. Chemical Control

After consulting the agro-shop near Itam market, we were advised to use Lambda-Cyhalothrin (sold locally under names like Karat). We mixed it at the recommended dosage and applied it early in the morning when the leaves were still dewy.

iv. Preventive Measures

After harvest, we cleaned the field and burned leftover stalks, to kill any lingering larvae. We also rotated the plot by planting legumes the following season to break the pest cycle.

v. Storage Pest Management

When we harvested maize, we dried it properly and mixed it with dry pepper and ash, a method my mother swore by. We stored the maize in sealed containers, away from direct moisture, and that alone saved us from weevils.

1 One major lesson from that experience is that early detection is everything. We were lucky to have noticed the armyworms before they spread. Many nearby farms didn’t, and they lost nearly half their crops.

2 Also, I learned that local methods still work. The neem leaf spray we used was as effective as the chemical one and safer for the soil and nearby streams. But sometimes, especially during peak infestation, chemicals become necessary.

3 Lastly, pest management is not just the job of the farmer. Government extension workers, local agricultural groups, and even schools need to educate people on sustainable practices. Most young farmers I know don’t even recognize pest symptoms until it’s too late.

Maize infested By Fall Armyworm

Healthy Maize Stem

Pest management isn’t a luxury but a survival strategy. From stem borers to weevils, every farmer has a story of fighting off invaders. A mix of traditional knowledge, careful observation and targeted control can go a long way in pest management.

If you’re a new farmer or thinking of starting a farm, don’t wait till you see holes in your leaves or rats in your barn. Start learning your environment now. Ask your elders, talk to agro dealers, and be ready to act.

Because on a Nigerian farm, the battle starts before the pests arrive.

I invite on @zulbahri @spektro224 @impersonal
To participate in the contest.