Termites in Mana-Sibu District of Oromiya

Abstract

West Wellega Zone, being suffering from termite infestation, is among the major coffee growing zone of Oromiya Region. The damage caused by this insect is characterized by serious land degradation affecting both crop and livestock production. Termite affected over 600,000 hectares in the Zone to the extent that the farmers have been forced to abandon their residence area, which is a remarkable crisis for the resource poor farmers of the area (Girma et al., 1999; ICRA, 1998). Among the districts found in West Wellega Zone, Mana-Sibu is one of the most termite-affected districts (Girma et al., 1999). Though termites are important constraints in this area, they have not been given due emphasis except termite mound poisoning and a few management practices as afforestation and area closure of termiteinfested fields practiced by the Mana-sibu Environmental Rehabilitation Project (MERP). However, these practices have not been ultimate solutions to the problem. This was partly because termite control options should have been integrated in the form of system approach. This publication reports a survey conducted to investigate the termite situation of Mana-sibu district emphasizing to uncovered areas by previous works with the following objectives:  characterize and identify farming system, problems and options of Mana-Sibu district, and suggest research, development and policy prescriptions concerning termite problems;  investigate the cause, extent of damage, and consequences of termite; and  create awareness in the farming community, government and non-governmental organization how to manage termite problems of the area.