ABSTRACT
The study investigated the economics of soil conservation
practices among small-scale farmers in Enugu State. The study used multi-stage
random probability sampling method and the primary data were collected form 120
farmers using structured questionnaire. Data on the socio-economic status of
the farmers, forms of land/soil degradation in the study area, methods/
technologies used in combating them, intensity of adoption of selected soil
conservation practices, costs and benefits of selected methods of conserving
the soil and constraints to adoption of soil conservation practices were
obtained. Data obtained were analyzed using percentages, cost-benefit analysis
and multiple regression analysis. Based on the 2007/2008 cropping season, it
was noted that male (70%) were more involved in soil conservation practices
than female (30%). Most of the farmers (61%) had no formal education. Land
acquisition was mostly through inheritance (77%). Fifty three percent of the
farmers have been in active farming for about 21 – 30 years. Membership of farm
organization by farmers was still low (16%). It is noted that 60% of the
farmers had never been visited by the extension agents. The major form of
soil/land degradation identified in the study area is reduced soil fertility (41%)
Majority (43%) of the farmers said that the methods of soil conservation used
are indigenous to them. The prevalent soil/land management forms in the study
area are inorganic fertilizer, livestock manuring, intercropping,
cover cropping and leaving crop residue. The study showed the guiding factors
to adoption of soil conservation technologies/ methods by respondents as
improved yield (return), access to credit, concern for soil erosion and other
related soil problems, ownership of land, climatic change, and capital access.
The study indicated that out of the thirteen (13) methods of soil
conservation mostly used, 77% of the farmers adopted between 1-6 methods. This
showed that the intensity of adoption is relatively low. The farmers that used intercropping,
inorganic fertilizer, cover cropping, leaving crop residue an livestock manure
combination as method of soil conservation have the highest gross margin
of N36750 and benefit-cost of 2.18. The effect/ relationship
between farmers’ socio-economic characteristics and intensity of adoption of
soil conservation practices showed a coefficient of determination, R2 of
63.2% which was a good fit. The test of influence of the socio-economic
characteristics of on farmer’s adoption intensity shows that these characteristics
have significant influence on adoption intensity at 5%. There is a significant
correlation between the benefits and the cost of soil conservation
practices(r-0.936, p<0.05). Access to credit, small farm size, and lack of
trainings, poor infrastructure and poor returns were the major constraints to
adoption of soil conservation practices by farmers. It was recommended that
land should be well defined and property right to land well enforced. Finally,
farmers were encouraged to form farm co-operatives fro easy training and access
to farm assistance.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
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Certification
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Dedication
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Acknowledgement
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Abstract
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Table of Contents
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List of Tables –
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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Information
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1.2 Problem
Statement –
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1.3 Objectives of the
Study
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1.4 Research
Hypothesis –
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1.5 Justification of the
Study
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1.6 Limitations of the
study-
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CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Concept of Soil
Conservation
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2.2 Soil Conservation
Methods
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2.3 Factors Influencing the
Economics of Soil
Conservation –
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2.4 Significance of Soil
Conservation
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2.5 Different Methods that
can be Adopted for Economic Analysis of Soil conservation
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2.6 Empirical Studies on
Soil Conservation
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2.7 conceptual
Issues
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2.8 Analytical
Procedure –
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CHAPTER THREE: METHOLOGY
3.1 Study
Area
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3.2 Sampling
Procedure
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3.3 Sources and Methods of
Data Collection-
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3.4 Data Analysis
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3.5 Model
Specification
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CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Socio-economic
Characteristics of the Respondents – –
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4.2 Method/ Technologies
Used in Combating Soil/ Land Degradation in the Study
Area
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4.3 Adoption of Selected
Soil Conservation Practices by the Respondents
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4.4 Effects of Scio-economic
Characteristics of Farmers on Their Intensity of Adoption of Soil conservation
Practices-
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4.5 Benefits and Costs of
Soil Conservation Practices
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4.6 Constraints to Adoption
of Soil Conservation Practices-
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CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
5.1
Summary
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5.2
Recommendation
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5.3
Conclusion
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REFERENCES
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LIST OF TABLES
Table Title
Page
Table 1 Distribution of
Respondents According to Sex
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Table 2 Distribution of
Respondents According to Age
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Table 3 Level of Education
Attainment by Respondents
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Table 4 Distribution of
Respondents According to their Marital
Status 45
Table 5 Distribution of
Respondents According to Family
Size 45
Table 6 Distribution of
Respondents According to System of Land
Acquisition
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Table 7 Distribution of
Respondents According to Years of Farming 46
Table 8 Distribution of
Respondents According to Total Farm Size 47
Table 9 Distribution of
Respondents According to Crop
Grown 47
Table 10 Distribution of Respondents According
to Access to Farm Credit 48
Table 11 Distribution of Respondents According
to Income on Sale of Produce of last Cropping
Reason
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Table 12 Distribution of Respondents According
to Forms of Land Degradation in the Study
Area –
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Table 13 Distribution of Respondents According
to Number that Uses Soil conservation
Method
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Table 14 Distribution of Respondents According
to Types of Soil Conservation
Practice(s)- –
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Table 15 Distribution of Respondents According
to Number of Using Soil Conservation Method(s)
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Table 16 Distribution of Respondents According
to Source of Method of Soil Conservation Practices used
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Table 17 Distribution of the Respondents According
to Number that Belong to Farm
Organizations
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Table 18 Distribution of Farmers According to
Number of Extension Visits
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Table 19 Guiding Factors to the Adoption Soil
Conservation Practices 55
Table 20 Distribution of Respondents Based on Intensity
of Use of Selected Soil conservation Practices
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Table 21 Multiple Regression
Result
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Table 22 Paired Sample
Test
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Table 23 Benefit-Cost Analysis for Soil
Conservation Practices in the Study
Area
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Table 24 Distribution of Respondents According
to Constraints to Adoption of Soil Conservation
Practices
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Soil may be defined as a natural body of loose and unconsolidated materials
found on the earth’s surface; it is derived from weathered parent rock
materials and decaying organic matters and it is composed of solid particles
with liquid and or gases occupying the spaces between the particles (Ohaeri,
2000). It is on this solid that most agricultural as well as non
agricultural activities take place. The food we eat, the raw materials
needed by the industries are derived from there, directly or indirectly.
An enduring food security will depend on a sustainable and productive resource
base (Amaechina, 2000).
Soil conservation is an investment to enhance the future productive capacity of
the soil, it implies reducing risks of soil erosion to a tolerable limit (Lapar
and Pandey, 1999). It is also a set of management strategies for
prevention of the soil being eroded from the earth’s surface or becoming
chemically altered by over use, salinization, acidification, or other chemical
soil contamination (Pagiola, 1993). It also entails not only control over
erosion but all those other measures like correction of soil defects,
application of manures and fertilizers, proper rotations, irrigation, drainage,
which aim at maintaining the productivity of the soil at a high level
(Government of India, 2006). Soil conservation is also viewed as the use
of those practices which will maximize the present value of the long-run
returns from land use (Kaine, 1991).
The need for soil conservation arises due to signs of deteriorating
agricultural environments which include erosion, flood disaster, desert
encroachment and drought, deforestation, loss of land to other uses; if not
checked, the soil becomes degraded. Soil degradation can be defined as a
reduction in the land’s actual or potential uses. If this occurs, productivity
is affected, leading to rise in the level of inputs and hence, costs needed to
restore soil productivity (Ohaeri, 2000). Douglas (1992) stressed that
degradation can be slowed or arrested by large range of methods including
cultural practices like minimum tillage and contour ploughing, vegetative
covers and mechanical measures such as terraces and channels. The
principal approaches that soil conservation strategies may take include;
vegetative cover, erosion prevention, salinity management, soil pH control,
encouraging health of beneficial soil organisms, prevention and remediation of
soil contamination and mineralization (Pagiola, 1993).