Improving Food Security by Adapting and Mitigating Climate Change-Induced Crop Pest: The Novelty of Plant-Organic Sludge in Southern Nigeria

Climate change is a global issue threatening food security, environmental safety, and human health in tropical and developing countries where people depend mainly on agriculture for their livelihood. Nigeria ranks among the top in the global yam production. It has the largest population in Africa and has been able to secure food for its growing population through food crops especially yam. Unfortunately, the recent increase in termites’ colonies due to climate change threatens yam yield. Besides harming man and environment, pesticides are expensive and not easily accessible to control the pests. This prompted a study which aimed at applying a biotrado-cultural approach in controlling the termites, as well as improving soil chemical properties and yam production. The study hypothesized that Chromolaena odorata and Elaeis guineensis sludge improved soil nutrient and yam yield and consequently decreased termites’ outbreak. In a randomized design experiment of five blocks and five replicates, five different treatments including unmanaged (UM), Vernonia amygdalina (VA), Chromolaena odorata (CO), Elaeis guineensis (EG) liquid sludge, and fipronil (FP) were applied in termites-infested agricultural soil. Data were collected and measured on the responses of soil chemical properties, termites, and yam yield to treatments using one-way ANOVA, regression, and multivariate analyses. The result showed that Chromolaena odorata (CO) and EG treatments were the best treatments for controlling termites and increase yam production. Termites were successfully controlled in VA and FP treatments, but the control was not commensurate with yam production. The experiment needs to be extended to other locations in the study region. It also requires an intensive and long-term investigation in order to thoroughly understand (i) the influence of climate change on the termites’ outbreak, (ii) the extent of termite damage to the crops, (iii) the impacts of climate change and variability on yam yields, (iii) the agricultural and economic benefits of the applied treatments, and (iv) the ecological and human health safety of the treatments.