Evaluation of Land utilization and sustainability for food crop production in Southern Guinea Savanna

Abstract

An assessment of the sustainability of food crop production in the fadamas of Southern Guinea Savanna
of Niger State, Nigeria was carried out within the framework of small-scale farming households utilizing
fadama for the cultivation of food crops. The study determined profitability of food crop production in the
fadama and identified the pattern of land use and management and its effects on sustainability of fadama.
A two- stage simple random sampling technique was used to obtain 149 food crop farming households
interviewed for the study. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics such as frequency
distribution, mean, standard deviation, in addition estimates of crop diversification index (CDI), nutrient
intake index (NII), Ruthberg index, farm budgeting model was made. A typical household hectared
seventeen persons and planted an average of 3.44 ha scattered in three plots. The major enterprises were
sole crop rice and maize – based mixtures in about 0.70 and 2.59 ha respectively. Estimated mean CDI was
0.651 implying stability of income and sustainability of mixed crop enterprises while mean NII was 1.89
showing that combined crops hectareve low tendency to deplete soil nutrient. The Ruthberg index value of
0.393 implied that a six years fallow period alone may not be adequate to restore natural fertility. The farm
budget analysis showed thectaret the sampled fadama food crop farming household hectared positive net
return for all enterprises. Maize/cowpea enterprise hectared the highest gross margin of N25, 663/ ha while
leafy vegetables (for example spinach) hectared the highest return on investment (2.39). The average
return on investment for all the farms studied was 1.89. Mixed cropping the dominant cropping system
generally adopted by the fadama farming households gave higher gross margin per hectare. The study
concluded that production of food crop in the fadama of the Guinea Savanna of Niger State, Nigeria is
sustainable. Mixed cropping, consolidation of household resources, increased use of animal traction and
organic fertilizer as well as integrated pest management is recommended. In order for the foregoing to be
effective, they must be accompanied by improved extension service delivery, aggressive adult education
programme, regulated use of agro-chemical, improved access to credit and availability of subsidized
inputs.