Cost Benefit Analysis Of Botanical Insecticide Use In Watermelon Production In Okigwe Southeastern Nigeria.

ABSTRACT Many studies have been carried out to examine the efficacy of botanicals but there is however paucity of information on the costs benefit of their use compared to conventional insecticides. In this study use crude extracts of Allium sativum Azadiracta indica Occimum gratissimum and Moringa olifera leaves were compared with the synthetic insectice cypermethrin against insect pest of watermelon Citrullus lunatus L in a split plot fitted into randomize complete block design replicated three times with plot sizes of 3m x 3m. This was evaluated at the experimental farm of National Horticultural Research Institute Mbato Sub-station Okigwe Imo State Nigeria in 2012 and 2013. The cost of each treatment including material and labour were calculated and the revenue of each derived using the prevailing market yield value of watermelon. The cost benefit ratios of sprayed treatments were derived by comparing the cost of each plant protection regime against the additional marekt value of the treatment yield above that obtained in the control treatment. The cost of cypermethrin used as plant protectant was lower compared to the cost of using the botanicals due to the high cost of the extractant used. The highest cost benefit ratio of 112.6 and 113.2 were obtained for Cypermethrin followed by Allium sativum with a value of 111.2 and 111.1 in 2012 and 2013 respectively . However botanicals differed in their level of efficacy and cost benefit but some are comparable to that from conventional insecticide use. The materials are easily sorted out from locally available plant materials and are safer to use.