Can biological control become a scalable solution for crop pest management in Nigeria? A focus on entomopathogenic nematodes

The overreliance on chemical pesticides for crop pest control has raised serious concerns about their environmental and health impacts. Biological control agents (BCAs), including entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), fungi, bacteria, parasitoids, and predators, offer safer and more sustainable alternatives. Despite promising results in experimental settings, the adoption of BCAs in sub-Saharan Africa remains limited. In Nigeria, EPNs are largely unknown to farmers, and no commercial production or importation system exists. This study investigates the sociocultural and institutional factors influencing farmers’ willingness to adopt EPNs as a biological control strategy. We surveyed 740 smallholder farmers across multiple regions of Nigeria, collecting quantitative data on awareness, perceptions, and willingness to adopt EPNs, alongside qualitative insights into barriers and support needs. Awareness of EPNs was extremely low, but willingness to adopt increased significantly among farmers with prior knowledge, positive perceptions of efficacy and safety, and access to extension services or training (p < 0.01). Major barriers included lack of awareness, product unavailability, and uncertainty about application. Farmers emphasized the need for training, demonstrations, and reliable supply systems. This study provides the first comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of the enabling conditions for biological control adoption in Nigeria using EPNs as a model BCA. We conclude that adoption of EPNs will require coordinated efforts to raise awareness, demonstrate field efficacy, establish distribution systems, and strengthen policy support. With these enabling factors in place, EPNs have strong potential to become a scalable and environmentally sound solution for pest management in Nigeria.