RURAL FARMERS’ AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES IN IMO STATE NIGERIA

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.

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

resources management system that through the integration of trees on farmland and range land diversifies and sustains production for increased social, economic and environmental benefits for land users at  all  levels.  Fagbemi (2002) sees agroforestry as the system of farming which combines agriculture with forestry in a rational approach and maintenance of sustainable production systems on the same piece of land, either simultaneously or sequentially. It is a collective name for all land use systems and technologies in which woody perennials (trees, shrubs, palms, bamboos, etc.) are deliberately combined on the same management unit with herbaceous plant (crops or pasture) and/or animals, in some form of spatial arrangement or temporal-sequence (Olujide & Oladele, 2011). Agroforestry involves the combination of trees and crops that increase the medicinal, environmental, and economic value of land with the much- needed profit and food security (ZinPing & Dawson, 2004). It includes both traditional and modern land-use systems where trees are managed together with crops and/or animal production systems in agricultural settings.

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

levels. This technique as practiced in  Nigeria has the potentials to  address slash and  burn agriculture and anthropocentric forces that are responsible for degradation. It provides a tool for accelerated economic improvement  in rural livelihood in a country where over  half of the population reside in the rural areas (Merem, 2005). It can help to ensure sustained productivity of the natural resource base  by enhancing soil fertility, controlling erosion and  improving the micro-climate of crop land, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, bio drainage, bio energy and bio  fuel and providing grazing  lands (Umeh, 2011). It  is a  land use option that  increases livelihood security and reduces vulnerability to climate and environmental change. It is more profitable to farmers than agriculture or forestry for a particular area of land because it has the potential to provide rural households with food, fodder, fuel wood and other products (Tokey, 1997; Samra, Dhyani, & Sharma, 1999). By providing farmers with a means of producing fuel wood,  timber,  building  poles  and  other  forest  products  on  farmland,  agroforestry  can significantly reduce the demand on forests and natural woodlands. It could therefore supplement forest restoration strategies (Michael, Gary, & Michele, 2011).

Agroforestry is also highly needed, especially by rural farmers in sub Saharan Africa where  there  are  small  land  holdings  and  high  cost  of  inputs  and  poor  market  structures (Mukadasi & Maxwell, 2008). In traditional land-use practices, agroforestry is important in maximizing and diversifying the productivity of highly fertile lands. As a land-use formula, it serves the diverse needs of individual farmers in harnessing the natural resources around them, as this cannot be reconciled by the traditional cropping system. Agroforestry equally provides raw materials for large-scale processing industries such as foods and beverages, confectioneries, flavorings, perfumes, medicines, paints and polishes, paper, packaging cases for industrial products and other purposes (Alao & Shuaibu, 2011).

1.2 Problem statement

The rapidly expanding population and consequent pressure on land for socio-economic, agricultural and industrial development as well as increasing human interference on the forests and the environment have put the future of Nigeria forest and agricultural land in great danger (Bifarin, Folayan & Omoniyi, 2013). As observed by Aweto (2000) increase in population has equally led to heavy dependence on fuel wood especially by rural people and urban poor in developing countries like Nigeria leading to increased deforestation.

Continuous depletion of the forest reserve base and agricultural land has major effects on the agricultural segments of Nigeria economy (Akpabio, et al., 2008). It causes a decline in the productive capacity of soils, accelerated erosion, destruction of wildlife habitats and loss of plant genetic diversity, climate change, landslides, soil degradation, and unfavorable hydrological changes. With continuous deforestation, the humid forest of Southeastern Nigeria which is richly endowed with many under-utilized and neglected plants (such as Irvingia wombolu, Irvingia gabonensis,  Pentaclethra  macrophylla,  Piper  guineense,  etc.)  that  have  high  nutritional, economic and medicinal values for man could become extinct (Nzekwe, Onyekwelu, & Uju, 2008).

According to Global forest resources assessment 2010 report by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (2010) Nigeria is classified among the countries with low forest cover of less than 2.3% of the total land area. Food and Agricultural Organization further reported that between 1990 and 2010, Nigeria has lost 47.5% of its forest cover, or around 8,193,000 ha and it is considered as the highest in Africa (FAO, 2010). Considering the rate at which the country has been losing her forest and agricultural land areas, there is need for maintenance and enhancement of soil fertility for global food security and environmental sustainability. Therefore, the drive towards ensuring food security should be channeled towards developing agricultural practices and system that will be environmentally friendly and also focus on productivity on the long term rather than immediate production and accruing returns (Bankole, Adekoya & Nwawe, 2012). Thus, improved production systems that can build on the resilience of the traditional systems by utilizing external inputs or improved materials, and are able to produce surplus, need to be developed in order to relieve pressure on natural resources and ensure sustainable agricultural development (Kang & Akinnifesi, 2000). Agroforestry holds great promise for contributing to sustainable land–use systems which can overcome the problem of land degradation and the “food crisis” which is a pressing problem in Nigeria (Kang & Akinnifesi, 2000).

Umeh (2008) in her study noted different agroforestry practices that exist in Imo state which include; homestead garden, trees on crop land, improved fallow, multistory crop combinations. However, increased investment in the development of agroforestry practices has not been sufficiently addressed in policy formulation nor has it been integrated into land-use planning and rural development programmes (FAO, 2013). Nwosu (2014) noted that absence of articulated  environmental and  agricultural policies  has  led  to  the  derailing  of agroforestry initiatives and created impactful environmental degradation. This is evidenced with the continuous decline in forest and agricultural area. The questions therefore are: What agroforestry practices exist in Imo state? Do farmers derive any benefit from these agroforestry practices? What  are  the  factors  limiting  practice  of agroforestry? What  are  the  possible  measures to improve agroforestry practices?

1.3 Purpose of the study

The overall purpose of the study was to assess rural farmers’ agroforestry practices in

Imo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to;

1.  ascertain agroforestry practices used by farmers;

2.  assess perceived benefits of agroforestry practices to farmers;

3.  determine factors limiting agroforestry practices; and

4.  identify the possible measures to improve the agroforestry practices.

1.4 Significance of the study

This study will serve as a source of information on agroforestry practices to decision makers. It will help them to appreciate agroforestry as one of the ways of solving the problems of deforestation and land degradation and its role in rural development and agriculture. This could trigger the development of appropriate policy encouraging its practice. The findings will help NGOs to better understand the role they could play in agroforestry practices and thus be able to assist extension agents in the task of reaching rural communities and sensitize them on agroforestry.

The finding of the study could serve as a source of information to extension workers on agroforestry practices, the factors limiting its practice as well as the strategies for enhancing its practices. This will assist them to encourage farmers to adopt the practices as an alternative agricultural management practice. The study could increase farmers’ awareness level of the benefits of agroforestry as a soil conservation strategy, means of improving livelihood and productivity and a way of conserving their  forest resources. The study will equally add to existing knowledge on agroforestry and stimulate further research on the subject.

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