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ASSESSMENT OF WILDLIFE PESTS ON FADAMA FARMS ALONG RIVER BENUE (FROM ABINSI TO AGBOUGHUL SETTLEMENTS) IN MAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

This study explored the effect of wildlife pests on the large expanse of fadama land from Abinsi to Agboughul Settlements in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Structural questionnaire such as focus group discussion (FGD) targeting young energetic farmers between the ages of 21-30 years was used. Random sampling technique was employed to select one hundred respondents from the two settlements, (50 each from the two settlements). The data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistics (such as frequency, percentages and tables). The result showed that cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) (37%) and rabbit (Capensis cuniculus) (32%) caused the most damage to the Fadama crops as compared to giant snails, (Achatina achatina (11%) and Nile rat (Arvicanthis niloticus) (20%). Furthermore, 44% of the farmers agreed that the animals visited the farms at night and while 25% and 11% believed the visits were in both night and early morning respectively. Attempt to control the wildlife pests revealed that most species continually killed could be as a result of lack of awareness campaign, agro forestry practices and integrated farming system. These endangered species or at least threatened may pose a dangerous trend to our wildlife conservation principles. However, this can be minimized through well planned education programmes for the farmers.