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Food Security: NISON seeks intensive research to tackle nematode diseases on crops

The Nigerian Society of Nematology (NISON) has asked the Nigerian government to invest resources in research to find solutions to the ravaging effects of nematodes which they said can be a hindrance to the country’s quest to achieve food security.

Speaking at the 6th biannual Hybrid Conference of NISON, with the theme ‘The Science of Nematology: A Tool for Ameliorating the Impact of Climate Change and Hunger in Developing Economy’, held in Abuja, the President of NISON, Professor Aminanyanaba Asimiea explained that nematodes are parasitic worms that eat up crops and they cause diseases to plants. He said the disease also reduces crop yield.

He said in normal circumstances, you could have a plant survive a bit more if it is not under water stress, or environmental stress.

Water stress according to him could be very dry soil or over-flooded soil, and when climate change comes with its effects such as flooding, dryness, desertification and others, it decreases the chances of the crop to cope with the effect of the diseases, and the farmers will continue to lose more crops because, under the effect of climate change, the effect of Nematode further decrease their ability and chances of recovery.

“Under this condition, we have also found out that there are changes in the disease profile. Nematode you know that used to cause a particular disease in a crop is changing, so a lot of research needs to be done so that you keep monitoring the changes in the Nematode trends in terms of their type and population, while you are doing that, you are monitoring against the weather, and you are now adjusting your crop planting, resistance while you are also looking at resistance and resilience to flooding and dry weather.

“So, a lot of research is needed and generally, Nigerians know about fungi, bacteria and insects, but a lot doesn’t know about Nematode. We need to continue doing a lot of research in Nematode because Nematode has a way of linking these organisms together, they carry bacteria, they carry viruses as they feed, so the crop is now having triple of its problem when Nematodes are involved,” he said.

The NISON President further stated that Nematology is one of the least understood sciences in Nigeria. He said in the world, most countries pay a lot of attention to Nematological research.

“We need to do a lot of research in Nematology, when we do so, you will now find out that there are resistance crop varieties you may want to develop so that the effect of Nematode will be less.

“In this conference, we are going on to ensure that government gets to know that we need more research in Nematology so that we can go on to increase food production and also combat or have crops that adapt to climate change generally so that when Nematode are attacking, we will be able to have crops that will resist it, and also deal with the adverse, extreme weather condition,” he added.

NISON also presented awards to institutions and individuals who have assisted and partnered with them in various ways by putting out the work they do as Nematologists.

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