Indigenous Knowledge and Perceptions of Rice Blast Disease Prevalence and Management among Smallholder Farmers in Gombe State, Nigeria

Abstract

Rice blast disease, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, remains a major constraint to rice production, particularly among smallholder farmers that depend on traditional management practices. This study assessed indigenous knowledge and perceptions of rice blast incidence and management among smallholder farmers in Gombe State, Nigeria, through field surveys and structured questionnaires. Farmers widely recognized rice blast as a serious yield constraint, identifying its characteristic leaf lesions and seasonal occurrence. Disease incidence and severity at the study areas were high during the rainy season, reaching 66.0 % and 35.0 % in Gelengu, 60.0 % and 29.0 % in Malleri, and 58.0% and 30.0 % in Dadin Kowa, respectively. Chemical application was the predominant control method, used by 76 % of farmers in Dadin Kowa, 74 % in Malleri, and 64 % in Gelengu, while adoption of resistant varieties was comparatively low (8–14 %). Most farmers relied on fellow farmers for advice (60 % in Dadin Kowa, 42 % in Malleri, and 36 % in Gelengu), with limited engagement with extension agents and formal training. Perceptions of disease severity were influenced by experience, local knowledge exchange, and access to information. The study highlights the need to integrate indigenous knowledge with modern, eco-friendly management practices and strengthen participatory extension systems to achieve sustainable rice blast control and improved productivity in Gombe State.