ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to assess
rural farmers’ agroforestry practices in Imo State, Nigeria. The population for
the study comprised all farmers involved in agroforestry practices in Imo
state. Four local government areas (LGAs) were selected out of 27 LGAs in the
state using simple random sampling technique. From the four LGAs, two town
communities were purposively selected based on their involvement in
agroforestry practices giving a total of eight town communities. From each of
the eight town communities, four village communities were purposively selected
because of their involvement in agroforestry practices making a total of 32
village communities. From the list of agroforestry farmers compiled in each of
the village communities by extension agent, five farmers were selected using
simple random sampling technique. In all, a total of 160 agroforestry farmers
constituted the sample size for the study. Data for the study were collected
through interview schedule. Percentage, charts, Mean statistics, Analysis of
Variance (ANOVA), Duncan multiple range test and factor analysis were used in
analyzing the data. Results showed that the average age of the farmers was 54
years. Majority (56.7%) of the respondents was male and married (73.1%). The
average household size of the farmers was 7 persons. Majority (56.9%) of the
farmers got their income from sale of farm products and 35.6% of them engage in
trading as their secondary occupation. Majority (68.8%) of the farmers belonged
to various organization. About 53% of the farmers had contact with extension
agents in the last one year and the average extension contact was 2 times. The
average size of land used for agroforestry practices was less than one hectare.
Majority (96.9%) of the farmers practiced home gardens. There was an increase in
the number of farmers involved in agroforestry practices in the last five years
(47.5%) . Majority (84.4%) of the farmers planted banana in their farm as the
major tree component of agroforestry and majority (98.1%) of farmers cultivated
yam as the crop components of the agroforestry practice. The average number of
trees planted/protected in the homestead and farmstead varies significantly
over the years. There was a decline in the average number of trees planted
and/or protected both in the homestead and farmstead from the year 2009 to
2013. The result showed that pruning (87.5%) was the major management strategy
used by farmers to maintain their trees while majority (98.8%) of respondents
practiced agroforestry to improve soil fertility. Major constraints to
agroforestry practices were grouped into knowledge constraints, tree growth
constraints and market constraints. The major effective strategy for enhancing
agroforestry practices was to increase the awareness of agroforestry practice
through training and workshop.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background information
One
of the challenges facing Nigeria is the production of sufficient food and fiber
to meet the need of her ever increasing population (Alao, & Shuaibu, 2011).
With rapid population increase and land use pressure, natural fallows and
shifting cultivation have been reduced to below the minimum threshold required
for the system to sustain itself (Opio, 2001). These have led to land shortages
and continuous arable cultivation without fallowing (Thangata, Hildebrand & Gladwin, n.d). As a result of this, land does not
have enough time to replenish its fertility. However, attempts to resuscitate
land and hence promote yield with the use of chemical fertilizers have resulted
in soil toxicity and environmental pollution (Akpabio, Esu & Adedire,
2008).
It is
imperative to introduce practices that would not only be an additive to
traditional land-use practices, but also ensure the sustainability of
production and socially acceptable without damage to the ecosystem (Akpabio, et
al., 2008; Amonum, Babalola, & Agera, 2009).
Agroforestry practices represent such land use practices as it offers a
solution to the problem posed by the high demand on land, and stands as a means
of halting the vicious circle of deforestation, soil erosion and other
environmental problems facing Nigeria. It is one of the sustainable
agricultural practices in soil fertility practice that uses natural resource
management principles to replenish soil fertility (Ajayi, Franzel, Kuntashula
& Kwesiga (2003); Mercer, (2004)).
Agroforestry
is an ancient practice in sub-Saharan Africa where farmers deliberately
integrate and retain trees in their farmland. According to International Center
for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) (1997) agroforestry is defined as a
dynamic, ecologically based natural
Through
the ages, rural farmers in the tropics have devised several agroforestry
practices, many of which are still in active use (Kang & Akinnifesi, 2000).
Some of the agroforestry practices in the southeastern states of Nigeria
include; homestead garden, alley cropping, trees on crop land, improved fallow,
multistory crop combinations etc (Umeh, 2008). Plant species used in farming
communities in many regions of developing countries especially Nigeria include;
cereals, pulses, fibers, nuts, medicinal, timber and aromatic plants such as;
Iroko (Chlorophora excels), melina (Gmelina arborea),
local pear (Dacryodes edulis), orange (Citrus species), bitter
leaf (Vernonia amydalina), scent leaf (Ocinum gratisimum) etc
(Umeh, 2011).
Agroforestry
practices have the potential of improving agricultural land use systems,
providing lasting benefits and alleviating adverse environmental effects at
local and global....
================================================================
Item Type: Postgraduate Material | Attribute: 106 pages | Chapters: 1-5
Format: MS Word | Price: N3,000 | Delivery: Within 30Mins.
================================================================
No comments:
Post a Comment