Journal of Public Health and Diseases

This study was conducted to establish a direct link of malaria incidence and rainfall pattern on farmer’s productivity. In a cohort of farming households in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, rainfall pattern, malaria incidence and household farming activities were carefully monitored on a weekly basis over an 8 months period (May to December, 2012). Malaria diagnosis was confirmed among febrile household members using Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein II (PfHRP2) malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) kit (Parachek®). Data was collected on the factors of production as well as on the number of kilograms produced by the households for a range of crops such as maize, sorghum, cowpea, cassava, pepper, and yams. Data was also collected on febrile episodes among family members and other relatives within the households and on rainfall pattern. Descriptive statistics and production function were used to analyze the data. A total of 72 households participated in the study involving 432 household members. Malaria incidence was varied with rainfall pattern and crop productivity. Most of the farmers operate on a small scale and mainly cultivated cassava and yam. Malaria affected at least three-quarter of the household’s members. The study area recorded an average malaria prevalence of 103 per 1000, 7 rainy days and 256 mm of rainfall. Rainfall days and intensity was highest in the months of October and July respectively. Land, family labour, seed, and fertilizer are the major factors influencing crop production in the study area. The study revealed that cassava, yam, maize and pepper outputs were higher for households with a low incidence of malaria compared to high incidence households except for sorghum. Number of rain days in the study area is important to mosquito breeding which translate to increased malaria incidence thereby having negative effect on crop productivity. Creating awareness on the use of mosquito net and targeted seasonal malaria control strategies should be applied during the peak malaria prevalence period to reduce malaria incidence and enhance agricultural productivity in the study area.