EFFECT OF ANTHROPOGENIC PRACTICES ON AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN PARTS OF BWARI AREA COUNCIL ABUJA, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to evaluate effects of anthropogenic practices on agricultural activities in parts of Bwari area council (Igu, Mpape, Bwari and Bazango Kubwa). In order to obtain the pertinent information needed for the study a structured questionnaire was administered to the farmers as well as households of the study area. The Landsat Images of 1988, 2008 and 2018 of the study area was analysed to show that there are anthropogenic  practices  going  on  in  the  study area  among  these  are  deforestation, overgrazing, urbanisation mining among others. The analysis of delineation of the land cover change in,Igu, Mpape, Bwari and Bazango Kubwa of the study area unveils that, there is drastic reduction in area of vegetation over the years. Agricultural land in Kubwa 16.9614 Km2  (43.39%), 14.2263Km2  (36.41%). 12.4209(Km2) (31.78%), in Bwari form 24.5988Km2 (45.96%), 18.9612Km2 (35.45%), 6.327 (Km2) (11.83%) also in Igu   75.3138Km2  (58.79%), 57.4758Km2  (44.91%), 47.1006(Km2) (36.77%)   and finally in Mpape 31.2831km2 (57.96%), 24.9831km2 (46.3%) , 18.1692Km2 (33.66%) . The degraded land cover has been proven that there is direct impact on the agricultural practices in the study area. It was discovered that land cover change has greatly contributed to the loss of soil nutrient, exposure of soil to erosion, impede plant growth, soil salinity. Low yield of agriculture becomes a threat for the farmers in the area as a result of anthropogenic practices; cultivated land to grazing, cultivated land to urban, cultivated land to infrastructural constructions as well as eroded cultivated land by running water. Numerous strategies are being put in place in order to mitigate and adapt effect of delineation of the land cover change on agricultural activities such as training programmes should be set in place to guide people on proper anthropogenic practice, Increasing the area and standard management of protected areas. The researcher here by recommend that anthropogenic practices within the vicinity of the agricultural land should be regulated, Policy should be put to control and restrict the various anthropogenic practices such as mining, deforestation, to prevent its hazardous effective on lives and properties of the people, and Enlightening programs should be organized on proper anthropogenic practices as well as risk involved in wrong practices.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

Human  impact  on  the  environment  or  anthropogenic  impact  on  the  environment includes changes to biophysical environments (Sahney, 2010) and ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources (Hawksworth, 2008) caused directly or indirectly by humans, including global warming (Cook, 2016), environmental degradation (Sahney, 2010). Modifying the environment to fit the needs of society is causing severe effects, which become worse as the problem of human overpopulation continues (Stockton, 2015). Some human activities that cause damage (either directly or indirectly) to the environment on a global scale include human reproduction, overconsumption, overexploitation, pollution, and deforestation, to name but a few. Some of the problems, including global warming and biodiversity loss pose an existential risk to the human race (Perkins, 2017) and overpopulation causes those problems.

In most parts of the world, land degradation occurs due to human activities and natural factors. According to Ademiluyi et al. (2008), Africa has among the fastest rates of deforestation in the world associated with competing land uses which are mainly agriculture and human settlements. The rising demand for fuel wood and charcoal is also a major cause of deforestation and land degradation in this region where biomass is the main source of energy for domestic uses (Matano et al., 2015). The high population growth rates and migration in response to shortage of land resources are important factors contributing to the degradation of agricultural land (Diagana, 2003). Maitima et al. (2004) explained that soil erosion is a common phenomenon in the intensively grazed areas of sub-Saharan Africa due to lack of pasture management practices. Here, expansion of livestock farming practices, the increase in their numbers and in some places integration with rain fed agriculture in low potential areas leads to soil erosion. Land degradation by depletion of soil nutrients is widespread in areas of subsistence farming especially as a result of removal of crop residue from farmlands either by burning or for domestic energy.

This type of activities intensifies the acidity levels in the soils and may trigger soil erosion, and also reduces crop yields (FAO, 2001). Management and utilization of natural resources is often considered as the most critical environmental problem in Nigeria. However, pollution from industrial and domestic sources and related public health problems is also becoming a real menace. Water and air pollution and domestic and industrial wastes are some of the critical diseconomies that have resulted from the process of industrial expansion and social transformation in the country (Kamau, 2010). Anthropogenic practices impact directly and indirectly on people’s livelihoods, their vulnerability and food security (McDonagh et al., 2006). Bationo et al. (2006) stated that land degradation is the most serious threat to food production, food security, and natural resource conservation in Africa. They explained that the African population is trapped  in  a  vicious  cycle between  land  degradation  and  poverty,  and  the lack  of resources and knowledge to generate adequate income and opportunities to overcome the challenges of land degradation.

Due to anthropogenic practices, Net Primary Productivity (NPP) index decreased in South Africa with a 41 per cent reduction in croplands (Bai and Dent 2007) About 17 million people, 38 % of the South African population, depend on these degrading areas. They reported that about 6 million hectares of primary forest is lost annually due to agriculture, logging, and other human activities responsible for land use and land cover changes (FAO, 2006; Lambin et al., 2003). In Nigeria over the period 1981-2017, NPP increased in woodland and grassland, but hardly at all in cropland and in 40 % of cropland it decreased. This was in the context of a doubling of human population over the same period and an increased demand for food resources (Bai and Dent, 2006).

In Sub-Saharan Africa, most economic developments are agriculturally based with two thirds  of  African  countries  depending  on  agriculture  for  their  livelihoods.  Diagana (2003) explains that in this region, most farmers are small holders with 0.5 to 2 ha of land and who earn less than US $1 a day. Many of the farmers face 3-5 months of hunger, have large families and are malnourished. The fate of the agricultural sector, therefore, directly affects economic growth, poverty eradication programs and the social welfare of livelihood Wanjala and Kinyanjui 0039 in Africa. In Nigeria specifically, agricultural productivity and food security are currently under serious threat due to the decline in soil fertility (Kabubo-Mariara, 2010).

Landuse changes in Nigeria have transformed land cover to farmlands, grazing lands, human  settlements,  and  urban  centres  at  the  expense  of  the  natural  vegetation (Abdullahi et al., 2010). These changes are associated with deforestation, biodiversity loss, and land degradation (Maitima et al., 2009). For example, in the early 2000s, approximately 30% of Nigeria’s land was affected by very severe to severe land degradation and an estimated 12 million people, equivalent to a third of the Nigeria’s population, depended directly on that land which was being degraded (Bai and Dent, 2008).

While making an attempt to address degradation issues, the iterative nature of causative agents are given less consideration. For instance, it has become a general tendency to treat increasing population pressure and unsustainable agricultural practices as primary cause of land degradation (Vezina et al., 2006), whereas the effects of other socio- economic and environmental factors are under-estimated. This is being echoed particularly by two researchers; firstly, by Boardman (2006) who stated that to understand land degradation due to water erosion, “the greatest need is for a full recognition of socio-economic drivers,” and secondly, by Jones (1996) who stated, “as the interest of land degradation grows in the field of developmental studies, meanings are implicitly negotiated and Western Scientists begin to revise their worldviews on land degradation.” True to saying that land degradation issues are partly socially constructed, both locally and at broader scales (Lestrelin & Giordano, 2007), developmental activities in any form(s) may contribute to causing land degradation (Vezina et al., 2006).

Considering all things, the key question which often springs to mind is: should we make a holistic approach to address land degradation issues? Mazzucato and Niemeijer (2000) states: “the need to focus studies on land degradation in understanding how agricultural systems respond to various changes in the social, economic and environmental context in which agriculture takes place, rather than focus solely on the population pressure as an indicator of the use or the non-use of soil and water conservation technologies.” This is   particularly   important   because   efforts   towards   intervening   in   ongoing   land degradation of any kind may likely change if insights into the socio-economic web of the communities are unravelled. Anthropogenic problems creep in when the society undergoes some kind of transition (Easterling & Apps, 2005), particularly in respect to social and economic terms.

1.2       Statement of the Research Problem

Improving agricultural  activities  in Bwari area council of Abuja in achieving food sustainability need serious action. However, widespread anthropogenic practices, exemplified by soil erosion and declining soil fertility, which in turn leads to falling production, remains a big challenge in the region. Over the last three decades, soil erosion and land degradation have become major environmental concerns and present a formidable threat to food security and sustainability of agricultural production (Kabubo- Mariara et al., 2010). In Bwari area council deforestation is still rampant particularly in villages and among farmers where land for cultivation is priority. Population pressure, improper Government policies and disruption of indigenous traditional landuse management practices, have contributed to accelerated degradation of forest land and loss of biodiversity (Wafuke, 2012). These human activities have resulted in intensive landuse, modification, and alteration of the status of the land use and land cover change over time.

Anthropogenic practices constitute a serious problem in many parts of the world. The causes, processes, prediction and control have aroused the interest of many researchers (Ireland et al., 2016). Natural events such as erosion can be hazardous to man. The disasters that natural hazards can cause are largely the result of actions by man that increase vulnerability, or lack of action to anticipate and mitigate the potential damage of these events. Anthropogenic practices have been mentioned as one major constraint to improved agricultural activities and household welfare in Nigeria (Adewuyi, 2012). In  fact, recent household budget survey studies  show that the major cause of low incomes in Nigeria rural areas has been stagnating agricultural production (Deininger and Okidi, 2001). As a result, poverty in Nigeria is still pervasive and highest among those households whose main source of living is crop agriculture. For instance, poverty among households headed by crop farmers increased from 39 to 50 percent between 1999 and 2002 while poverty dropped from 47 to 38 percent for those households the main occupation of which is non-crop agriculture (livestock and fishing) for the same period of time (Appleton and Sewanyana, 2013). Farming is a major economic activity of the people of Bwari and its being practiced all year round both at subsistence and commercial scale. Increase in population in the area has led to high demand of land for agriculture production and hence intensive cultivation which leads to so much pressure on the land due to over cultivation. This might have resulted in decline in soil fertility. Few studies (Wafuke, 2012; Ireland et al., 2016; Adewuyi, 2012 and Deininger and Okidi,  2001)  available  in  the  area  of  interest,  none  of  this  study  dealt  with anthropogenic  practices  on  agricultural  activities  specifically  in  the  study  area. Therefore, this study will consider it has a gap to fill.

1.3       Aim and Objectives of the Study

The  aim  of  this  research  is  to  examine  the  effect  of  anthropogenic  practices  on agricultural activities in parts of Bwari Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria.

The specific objectives are to:

i.         Identify sources of anthropogenic practices in the study area.

ii.        Analyse the land use and landcover change of the study area from (1988-2018). iii.       Analyse the impacts of degraded landcover on agricultural activities in the study area.

iv.        Assess the mitigation and adaptation measures put in place on the effect of anthropogenic practices on agricultural activities.

1.4       Justification for the Study

Man depends on the environment, he makes changes to the environment and yet, he faces the worst effect and consequences of the environment. Land degradation has become an increasing problem in some part of Bwari and there is the need to reduce the rate and to conserve and enhance landuse in the area. In the absence of comprehensive data on this problem of human activities effect on agricultural land in the area, the expected outcome of this research is to be a framework which will assist government, non-governmental organizations on how to address the problem of erosion in the area.

The rate at which anthropogenic practices are damaging the land in Bwari had not received the desired attention. The rate at which human activities rapidly unchecked that, many people does not know its effects and consequences. This study will examine various forms of anthropogenic practices in parts of Bwari Area council. Furthermore, the fact that a number of people had put forward various solution regarding the effect of human activities that makes it necessary to examine those opinions in addition to the problem. It’s also imperative to conduct this study not only for its academic but also to bring out useful fact so as to get solutions to the problem of human activities effect on agricultural activities. This research will go a long way to unravel the nature of anthropogenic practices effects on agricultural activities in the study area which will address the problem of human activities so as to improve the economic activities of the people.

1.5       Scope of the Study

The study was carried out in Bwari Area Council of FCT Abuja, it covers four communities (Bazango Kubwa, Mpape, Bwari town and Igu). This focused on various anthropogenic practices such as farming, urbanization, overgrazing, and deforestation menace on landuses in the area, it assesses the land use of the area, agricultural practices of the people of the area and investigate the mitigative measures towards the effect of anthropogenic practices on land uses. The research makes use of both theoretical and investigative method for collection of data such as landcover changes between 1988 and 2018.

1.6       Study Area

1.6.1    Geographical description

Bwari area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) lies between 9°08’25” North and 7°22’25” East. Abuja has an area of 8,000km2  and it lies wholly within the geo- political region referred to as the middle belt, and it forms part of the Guinea Savannah ecological zone (Chup, 2004). Abuja is bounded to the west and north by Niger State. It also shares boundary with Kaduna State in the North East, Nasarawa State in the West, and Kogi State in the South. A straight line drawn across Abuja from north to south covers a distance of about 87km, and from east to west is about 90km (Chup, 2004).

Figure 1.1 Selected Communities within the Study Area (Bwari Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria).

Source: Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Abuja, (2019).

1.6.2    Geology and landforms

The basement complex rocks and the sedimentary rocks, cover a total land area of about 48% and 52% respectively (Abumere, 1993), Bwari has base of complex rocks are occupied majorly by hills and terrain with rocks of schists, gneiss and older granites. The highest areas in FCT are located in these areas, with peak reaching 940 metres above sea level, towards the North Eastern part. The undulating plains under the sedimentary rocks are deposits of erosional surfaces of the quarternary period (Adeleye, 1989). These plains are however dotted with isolated hills and inselbergs (Chup, 2004).

1.6.3    Soils

The soils of the FCT derive basically from two sources; the crystalline rocks of the basement complex rocks, which cover the northern two-thirds of the territory, and the Nupe sandstones, which covers the southern one-third of the territory. The soils are often described along the identified physiographic regions (Alhassan, 2000). The major soil types include the gleysols, fluvisols, luvisols, combisols, regosols and lithosols. Generally, the alluvial complexes contain gleysols and fluvisols, with the exception of the alluvial pediment complex of the Zuba hills, which contain combisols and regosols. The interfluves are dominated by luvisols and combisols. The summit and upper slopes of most interfluves are dominated by combisols and lithosols, while the wooded hills of plains (especially Gwagwa, Iku and Kau) are dominated by the regosols (Chup, 2004).

1.6.4    Climate

This section presents a brief description of the precipitation, temperature and humidity characteristics of the territory. In terms of precipitation, mean annual amount varies from about 1400mm in the southern part of Abuja to about 1765mm in the north-east. The rainfall in the Abuja occurs during the rainy season (April to October) when the tropical Maritime air mass prevails over most parts of the country. There is extreme concentration of rainfall in the three months of July, August and September when more than 60% of the rainfall is received. The duration of the rainy season also varies from six months in the northern parts, to eight months in the southern parts of Abuja.

Highest temperatures in Abuja occur during the dry season months which are generally cloudless. Maximum temperatures in March and vary from 39°C in the south west to about 34°C in the north east. This period also records the highest diurnal temperature range of about 17°C. The rainy season months usually record lower diurnal temperature ranges of about 7°C. Maximum temperatures during this period vary from about 34°C in the south west to about 31°C in the north east. Average temperatures of about 24°C and 28°C are recorded in the rainy and dry seasons respectively in the north east and 27°C and 30°C, in the south west. Humidity varies in the dry season from as low as 20% in the afternoon, in areas of high elevation (North and North East), to about 30% in areas of lower elevation (South West). (Chup, 2004).

1.6.5    Vegetation

Abuja vegetation reveals a gradual transition from the rain forest in the south, to the Sudan Savannah in the north. The existence of numerous river valleys and hill ranges have added to the variety of vegetation in the territory. Adakayi (2000), has separately discussed the variety of vegetation in the FCT. A common observation is the fact that the vegetation consists of both forests and savannah types. The forests consist predominantly of woody plants, while the savannah consist of a combination of woody plants and mesophytic grasses which may grow to a height of 0.8m. (Chup, 2004).

1.6.6    Population

The population of Abuja has been on the increase especially within the last two decades. At the 2006 census, Bwari Area Council has an area of 914 km² and a population of 227,216 as at 2006. The population of Abuja as at 1987 consisted mainly of eight ethnic groups which included Gbagyi 61.7%, Bassa 17.4%, Koro 6.1%, Gade 4.8%, Hausa 3.0%, Gwandara 2.7%, Ebira 1.3%, Tiv 0.8%. In addition, other ethnic groups constituted 2.2% of the population (Mundi, 2000). The indigenous population is presently mostly restricted to the rural areas, while the urban centers are heterogeneous. To illustrate this, the entire rural population of 1977, with no settlement having a population  of  up  to  5,000  is  believed  to  have  had  at  least  27  settlements  with populations of more than 5,000 by 1999 (Mundi, 2000).

1.6.7    Settlements

The capital city has more than 850 settlements out of which more than 80% are rural (Dawam, 2000), apart from the Federal Capital City (FCC), Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje, Bwari, Yaba, Robochi, Karshi, Zuba, Kubwa, Gwagwa, Karimu, Idu, Lugbe, Nyanya and  Karu, all  other settlements  are villages  and  hamlets  which  are of  the isolated nucleated pattern (Dawam, 2000). As at 1977, all the settlements lacked basic infrastructure  and  the  inhabitants  were  engaged  in  farming  and  other  extractive activities. The urban areas today are provided with basic amenities and infrastructure, and have populations whose major occupation is in the secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy (Dawam, 2000).

₦8,000.00 – DOWNLOAD FULL PROJECT DOWNLOAD FULL PROJECT Added to cart

---

---

---

---

Related Project Topics :