ABSTRACT

This study determined farmers’ attitude and adoption of soil degradation preventive measures in Abia state, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to identify the causes of soil degradation; estimate the loss in income of farmers as a result of soil degradation; identify the various measures used by farmers in preventing or reducing soil degradation and the cost incurred; estimate the determinants of adoption of soil degradation adaptation measures; determine factors that influence individuals farmers’ attitude towards preventing soil degradation; and identify the constraints of farmers to preventing soil degradation in the study area. Primary data used in this study were collected using questionnaire that was administered to 120 randomly selected farmers in the study area. Descriptive statistical tools, probit model and ordinary least square regression method were used in analyzing the data. The result of the study showed that the mean age of farmers was 45 years, with 61% of the farmers being male while 39% were females. Majority (75%) of the farmers were married while the mean farm size was 2.8 Ha. The study also showed that 97% of the farmers in the study area were literate with different formal educational levels ranging from primary school education to tertiary education while 72% and 70% of the farmers indicated membership of association and received extension services, respectively and 74% of them had access to credit. Using the mean cut-off of 3.0, the major causes of soil degradation in the study area were deeply excavated subsoil and overburden with materials, extremely eroded due to deforestation and loss of biodiversity leading to attendant soil loss. The impact of soil degradation on the income of farmers showed that 82.8% of the farmers responded to poor soil fertility; 81.08% responded to low farm income; 70.2% on loss of crop output/fruit trees; 66.6% on loss of farmlands and forest biodiversity. The various measures adopted by the farmers for the prevention of soil degradation in the study area with the cost implications of such adoptions were the use of organic manure with total cost incurred as ₦777,100 and average cost of ₦9963 per farmer; planting of leguminous/cover crop with corresponding total cost incurred as ₦380,750: use of inorganic fertilizer and planting of trees with the corresponding average costs by individual farmers as ₦15869 and ₦8225, respectively. The determinants of adoption of soil degradation adaptation measures were income, education level, farming experience, extension contact, and age while the determinants of factors that influence individuals farmers’ attitude towards preventing soil degradation were farm size, extension contact, farming experience, age, education, farm income, and number of soil degradation experienced. Inadequate knowledge on how to cope with soil degradation, and limited income were the major constraints in remediating soil degradation. The study recommended the need for agricultural programme that will involve educating and empowering farmers on reducing soil degradation activities, government intervention in the remediation of soil degraded areas as this will reduce the high cost incurred by farmers in the use of soil conservation techniques.