Economic Damages of Primates on Farmlands around Ibodi Monkey Forest, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

There have been the reports of incidence of primate’s invasion within the vicinity of Ibodi Monkey Forest, in Osun State, Nigeria. This article examined the expected losses incurred, owing to damages caused by primates on farmlands as well as the techniques of control. For the study, primary data were gathered and used. Open-ended questionnaires were used to gather data, and they were given to all the affected farmers in the research area. In order to identify and sample the impacted farms, the non-probability snowballing method was applied. The outcome showed that each farmer in the settlements of Eriperi, Iyemogun, Isaobi, and Ileki-Ijesha lost an estimated average amount of cocoa valued at N67,656.35±420.90, â‚N68,248.14±500.97,â‚N66,094.73±482.22, â‚N67,817.90±554.17, respectively. Also, an estimated average of â‚N3,979.18, N3,981.33, N3,974, and N3,905.85 worth of maize were lost on farmlands by each farmer at Eriperi, Iyemogun, Isaobi and Ileki-Ijesha settlements respectively.  dditionally, in the aforementioned communities, an estimated average of N4,780.53, N3,993.50, N5,834.48, and N5,321.99 worth of cassava
plants were lost to primates. Additionally, the majority of respondents (37.8%, 18.2%, 20.1% and 23.9% in Eriperi, Iyemogun, Isaobi, and Ileki-Ijesha, respectively) used firearms to manage primates on their farmlands. The data also demonstrates that traps, scarecrows, chasing and firearms were the four (4) fundamental primate-invasion control methods utilized by farmers in the study locations to reduce damage. On the basis of the study’s findings, recommendations were made.