Pest And Disease Control on Crop Production in Selected Public Secondary Schools

ABSTRACT

The study examined the influence of pest and disease control on crop production in selected public secondary schools in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The study was guided by four (4) research questions and four (4) hypotheses. The study adopted the survey design research. The population of the study was eight hundred and sixty-five (865) teachers of the sixteen (16) public secondary schools in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The sample size was 300 teachers of ten (10) selected public secondary schools in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. A structured questionnaire was used for the data collection. Simple percentages and weighted mean scores were used to analyze demographic data and the research questions while Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test the hypotheses. The questionnaire items were designed on a four-point Likert rating scale. The results of the study revealed that Integrated Pest Management (IPM), biological control, chemical control and cultural control all have positive and significant influence on crop production in selected public secondary schools in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa. It was therefore recommended among others that public secondary schools and farmers should always consider using integrated pest management, biological control, chemical control and cultural control strategies in an effort to control pests and enhance production of marketable crops