Analysis of soil conservation practices and adoption in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the adoption of soil conservation practices among arable crop farmers in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used in collecting data from 80 arable crop farmers who were randomly selected from the study area. Data on the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, their farm output and income as well as different conservation practices adopted and the perceived effectiveness of the conservation practices adopted by the various farmers were also collected. Descriptive statistics and Probit regression analysis were used to analyze data collected . The findings indicated that majority (73.8 %) of the farmers were male with mean age of 42.7years old. The mean household size was 6 people and majority of the farmers (85%) had formal education. The study also showed that farmers in the study area adopted different combination of cultural and biological methods of soil conservation practices with crop rotation (95%) and contour farming (85%) as the most commonly adopted methods, while the least practiced method was zero tillage method (1.3%). The study revealed that the most effective soil conservation practice as identified by the farmers in the study area was crop rotation which was considered to be effective by 65% of the farmers. The empirical results from probit analysis further showed that years of farming experience, educational level, land size and farm income had positive and significant effect on the level of adoption of soil conservation practices in the study area. It is therefore recommended that extension agents should create more awareness on different types, methods and techniques of soil conservation practices available to further increase the farmers level of adoption and therefore boost arable crop production. Appropriate subsidy system and training are urgently needed to improve farmers adoption of soil conservation practices