The cultivation of vegetables for
commercial and domestic purposes in Nigeria is mostly
carried out by peasant farmers depend on irrigation or
natural rainfall (Luca, et al 2000). These vegetables
though seasonal, are cultivated in the same piece of
land every year. As a result of this continuous land
usage there is depletion of nutrient hence the need for
fertilizer or manure. Most farmers use untreated animals
and human faeses as manure, which are known to
contain various species of parasites that are of medical
and veterinary importance. (Okoronkwo,1998).
Indiscriminate faecal disposition in bushes, farm lands
and even in present farms with a belief of enriching the
lands is also a common practice by farmers and
unlearned citizens. Some of the water bodies used for
irrigation are also polluted with parasites infected
excreta, that could lead to recycling of infection (Ayer, et
al; 1992).