SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES AMONG FARMERS IN DOMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA
Category : Uncategorized
Iliyasu M. Anzaku1, Chunwate B. Thomas2, Ahmed Y. Ubangari3,
1Department of Science, School of Continuing Education, Bayero University, Kano,
2Department of Environmental Management, Nasarawa State University, Keffi,
3Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia.
Email: mmaman.iliyasu@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This research work assess the knowledge of soil conservation practices among farmers in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Data for the study were sourced from several sources that that could be broadly be classified into two: primary and secondary data. Data collected for the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics in the form of simple percentage and presented in chart format. The result revealed that 79% of the farmers owned the farmland the cultivated. 88% of the respondents have admitted that they noticed soil fertility changes on their farm. This occurs as a result of depletion in soil components which contributes to soil fertility. 80% of farmers noticed crop yield change on their farm. The findings also reveals that 95% of farmers were of the opinion that the nature of change in their crop yield has be on a increase. Inorganic fertilizer is the most popular commodity employed by farmers as fertility measure within the study area. 83.02% of the respondents of the study were of the assertion the usage is beneficial. The study recommends that there is a need to look into the possibility of initiating provision of motivational incentives to raise the capacity of farmers by provision of loan and training to enable them adopt improved measures of soil fertility in the study area.
KEY WORDS: Soil, Conservation, Practices, farmers, degradation.