Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 23 ISSUE 3
Written by Chima Innocent EZEH, Onwuchekwa OJIMGBA, Justin Kelechi NMERENGWA

This study analyzed the consequences of land degradation on livelihood and food security of rural farmers in South-East, Nigeria. The study adopted purposive and stratified sampling techniques in the selection of locations and 900 respondents (450 farmers farming on water degraded farm lands and 450 farmers farming on non-degraded water erosion farm lands). The data collected were analyzed using mean, frequencies, percentages mean score and z-test. The result showed that the mean annual food expenditure of the rural farmers in degraded and non-degraded farm lands were N273264.22 and N290,592.67 respectively with mean annual farm incomes of N122,024.55 and N172,737.72 respectively. The perceived socio-economic consequences of water erosion degradation on farm lands were: decreased farm income ( X̄ = 4.70), destruction of crops (X̄ = 4.62), reduction in soil nutrient/organic matter (X̄ = 4.59), increase in cost of production due to additional money spent in controlling/maintain degraded farm lands (X̄ = 4.42), threat to food security (X̄ = 4.47), decrease in farm land available for cultivation (X̄ = 4.34), reduction in farm yields (output) (X̄ = 4.44), laborious agricultural activities (X̄ = 3.96) and destroyed properties and infrastructure (X̄ = 3.87). The result showed that 56.67% and 60.44% of rural farmers on water degraded and non-water degraded farm lands respectively were food secured. The z-test showed significant differences in incomes and food security status of the two groups of farmers at varying alpha levels. The study recommended that government should ensure that farmers have access to affordable credit and land to increase their ability and flexibility to change production strategies in response to environmental degradation.

[Read full article] [Citation]