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Farmers’ perception of termites in agriculture production and their indigenous utilization in Northwest Benin

Overview of attention for article published in Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, November 2017
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Title
Farmers’ perception of termites in agriculture production and their indigenous utilization in Northwest Benin
Published in
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, November 2017
DOI 10.1186/s13002-017-0187-2
Pubmed ID
Authors

Laura Estelle Yêyinou Loko, Azize Orobiyi, Paterne Agre, Alexandre Dansi, Manuele Tamò, Yves Roisin

Abstract

Although termites are considered as agricultural pests, they play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem. Therefore, it matters to investigate the farmers' perception of the impacts of the termites on the agriculture and their indigenous utilization. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview 94 farmers through 10 villages of Atacora department, in the northwestern region of Benin, to obtain information for the development of successful strategies of termite management and conservation. Their perceptions on the importance and management of termites along with the indigenous nomenclature and utilization of termite mounds were assessed. Termite species identified by farmers were collected and preserved in 80% alcohol for identification. Eight crops were identified by farmers as susceptible to termites with maize, sorghum, and yam as being the most susceptible. According to farmers, the susceptibility to termites of these crops is due to their high-water content and sweet taste. A total of 27 vernacular names of termites were recorded corresponding to 10 species, Amitermes evuncifer, Macrotermes subhyalinus, and Trinervitermes oeconomus being the most damaging termite species. All the names given to termite species had a meaning. The drought was identified by farmers as the main factor favouring termite attacks. Demolition of termite mounds in the fields was the most commonly reported control method. Salt and other pesticides were commonly used by farmers to protect stored farm products. The lack of effective control methods is the main constraint for termite management. In northwestern Benin, farmers reported different purpose utilizations of termite mounds and termites. The study has shown that farmers perceived termites as pests of several agricultural crops and apply various indigenous control practices whose efficiency need to be verified. Utilization of termites and termite mound soil as food and medicinal resources underlines the need for a more focused approach to termite control for the conservation of non-pest termite species. The sensitization of farmers on the importance of termites as well as the development of an integrated control method to combat termite pests proved necessary.

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Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 121 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Unknown 121 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Master 19 16%
Researcher 12 10%
Student > Ph. D. Student 12 10%
Lecturer 9 7%
Student > Bachelor 7 6%
Other 15 12%
Unknown 47 39%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 38 31%
Environmental Science 5 4%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 4 3%
Social Sciences 4 3%
Medicine and Dentistry 3 2%
Other 15 12%
Unknown 52 43%
Attention Score in Context

Attention Score in Context

This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 2. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 07 February 2019.
All research outputs
#14,657,412
of 23,577,654 outputs
Outputs from Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
#480
of 748 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#237,460
of 440,701 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
#11
of 13 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 23,577,654 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 37th percentile – i.e., 37% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 748 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a little more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 5.8. This one is in the 35th percentile – i.e., 35% of its peers scored the same or lower than it.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 440,701 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one is in the 45th percentile – i.e., 45% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
We're also able to compare this research output to 13 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one is in the 15th percentile – i.e., 15% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.