Ethno-Veterinary Practices Amongst Small–Holder Farmers In Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper aimed at identifying factors influencing the use of ethno-veterinary practices amongst goat and poultry farmers in Ekiti state, Nigeria. It specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers; identified some diseases of goats and poultry with their corresponding indigenous cures; presented the procedures used in developing some of the ethno-veterinary medicine amongst farmers; identified the reasons for using ethnoveterinary practices; analysed the ecological factors influencing ethno-veterinary practices; identified the roles played by institutions in the utilisation of ethno-veterinary practices; and examined the benefits and problems associated with ethno-veterinary practices in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 100 respondents from ten communities, namely: Otun-Ekiti, Igogo-Ekiti, Osin-Ekiti, Omuo-Ekiti, Ilasa-Ekiti, Araromi-Ekiti, Efon-Alaaye, Oba-Ayetoro, Ise-Ekiti, and Orun-Ekiti. Pre-tested structured and unstructured interview schedules were used to collect quantitative data, while Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) were used to elicit qualitative data from the respondents. Frequency distribution, percentages, means and standard deviation were used to describe the data. Inferential statistics such as correlation and Chi-Square analyses were used to make deductions. The correlation result showed that at p < 0.05 level of significance, age (r = 0.368), family size (r = 0.114) and association membership (r = 0.231) were positively and significantly correlated with the utilisation of ethno-veterinary practices while education level (r -0.342), farming scope (r = -0.261,) and cosmopoliteness (-0.135) had negative but significant correlation with the utilisation of ethno-veterinary practices. Some of the problems (associated with the use of indigenous knowledge) identified by the farmers were lack of institutional support and the seasonal nature of some medicinal plants. It is, thus, suggested that all identified constraints need be removed by government to enhance the use of low-external inputs for sustainable agricultural development.

Assessment of ethno-veterinary practices in small ruminants in Akinyele local government area, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria

“…Turmeric paste is used for prevention and treating different skin diseases including fungal infections (Mishra, 2011;Rautray et al, 2015). The present result agrees with the findings of Kolawole et al (2007) that palm oil is used to treat scabies (mange). It also corroborates Ojo et al (2014) whose respondents used Khaya senegalensis and Nicotiana tabacum to treat mange in ruminants in Ekiti State, Nigeria.…”

Determinants of likelihood and extent of adoption of medicinal plants used for the treatment of cattle diseases in Fufore Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria

“…This implies that a high percentage of the respondents were within economic productive age and are still active in herding and taking care of their cattle. The findings of the research corroborate that of Kolawole et al (2007) in a study they conducted on ethno-veterinary practices amongst smallholder farmers in Ekiti state, Nigeria. Result in Table 1 also revealed that only 24.30% of the respondents had formal education (out of which 20.56% had primary and 3.74% attained secondary education) while 75.70% of the respondents had no formal education.…”

Ethnoveterinary practice used for treating ruminant diseases in Ilara-mokin, Ondo State

“…The use of the botanicals in the town is diminishing because they are switching to modern medicine to treat ruminant diseases. Diarrhea and mange were the most diseases and pest affecting the ruminant in the area (Adeola et al, 2014;Kolawole et al, 2007). Indigenous knowledge can be applied to treat ruminant New species of goat were found in Ilara-mokin (Grey, White and Black) compared to that of Ekiti state (Black, Brown) and that of sheep (Black) in Ilara-mokin and white in Ekiti state.…”