Assessing the Impact of Deforestation on Agricultural Activities and Management Strategies in Benue South, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/Keywords:
Agriculture , Deforestation , Impact, ManagementAbstract
Abstract
Deforestation poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity in Nigeria. This study investigates the impact of deforestation on agricultural activities and examines management strategies employed in the region. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining structured questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Five Local Government Areas (LGAs) were purposively selected, and 729 respondents were selected using the purposive sampling techniques. A subsample of 73 respondents, constituting 10% of the total respondent pool, was purposively selected for in- depth interviews to gather richer and more detailed information. The results show that deforestation has led to reduced crop yields with 56% of the respondents agreed,39% also agreed for loss of soil nutrients, and 39% of the respondents strongly disagreed that disruptions to the climate and water cycle, ultimately decreasing agricultural productivity in the region. The main causes of deforestation identified include fuel wood harvesting with relative index of 0.94 which rank 1st, with timber production, and farmland expansion having index of 0.90,079 which ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively. The study highlights the need for sustainable management strategies, such as sustainable agricultural programs with 15%, improved awareness constitute 27% , and 35% of the respondents hinted provision of alternatives to fuel wood, to mitigate deforestation practices. However, limited awareness and high costs of sustainable practices were identified as obstacles to effective deforestation prevention measures. The findings have important implications for policymakers, agricultural practitioners, and environmental managers seeking to address deforestation challenges and promote sustainable agricultural development in Benue South.
References
Adekunle, V. A. (2009). Contributions of agroforestry practice in Ondo State, Nigeria, to environmental sustainability and sustainable agricultural production, Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture, 4(3): 278-284.
Al-Amin, M. (2014). Domestic energy crisis and deforestation challenges in Nigeria. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 4(2), 94–101.
Aliyu, A., Modibbo, M.A., Medugu, N.I., & Ayo. O. (2014). Impacts of deforestation on socio-economic development of Akwanga Nasarawa State. International Journal of Science, Environment and Technology, 3(2), 403-416
Amadi DCA, Damasus AL, Zaku S & Maigaru A 2021. The effects of Agulu-Nanka erosion on the socioeconomic life of Agalu and Nanka Communities of Anambra State. Int. J. Engr.Res: and Devt., 9(12) www.ijerd.com
Amadi DCA, Dishan EE & Jatau DF 2006. Community participation in forest regeneration for environmental sustenance. Published by National Association of the Academics (NAA, Volume 10 No, 1, May, 2016. Multi Displinary Journal: ISSN 159-330, p. 57.
Amadi, D. C. A., Damasus, A. I., Zaku, S. &Maiguru, A. (2014). The effects of Agulu andNankacommunities of Anambra State. Int. J. Engr. Res: and Devt., 9(12), 16-32.www.,ijerd.com
Amous, S. (2010). The role of wood energy in Africa: In Wood Energy Today for Tomorrow(WEIT) Regional Studies. FAO Forestry Department Working Paper FOPW/99/3, FAO,Rome.
Anna, P. (2013). Annual deforestation rate and growth in gross domestic product in Brazil. Nature of Climate Change, 3(1), 7-9.
Barrett, C. B. (2010). Measuring food insecurity. Science, 327(5967), 825–828.
Becek, O. I. &Odihi, J. O. (2008). Identification and assessment of factors affecting forest depletion in Brunei Darussalam. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 9(2), 209-214.
Bodo, T. & Bodo, C.T. (2019). The applicability of the rule in Rylands. Fletcher to Petroleum Activities in Nigeria. Asian Journal of Advance Research Reports, 3(1), 1-10.
Brandão Jr, A., Coe, M. T., Pinto, E. & Cardoso, M. (2020). Deforestation and its impact on crop yields in the amazon: Evidence from Brazil. Global Change Biology, 26(6), 3331-3340. Https://Doi.Org/10.1111/Gcb.15083 .
Bustos, P., Caprettini, B. &Ponticelli, J. (2016). Agricultural productivity and structural transformation: Evidence from Brazil. American Economic Review, 106(6), 1320–65.
Bzugu P.M., Egbeaduma M.O., Aliyu, A., and Ibrahim A.K., Deforestation Adaptation Strategies Among Farmers in Nigeria. Journal of Land and Rural Studies. Center for Rural Studies. LBSNAA 7(1) 57 – 70, 2019.
CBD. (2009). Sustainable forest management, biodiversity and livelihoods: A good practice guide. Montreal, 47-111
Cesareo, K., Walker, L., Varela, J., & Smith, A. (2021). Deforestation and Forest Degradation | Threats | WWF. World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation#causes
Climate-data, 2013. Climate of Otukpo. http://en.climate-data.org/location/407811/500 (OL 24, also available on www.nigerianstat.gov.ng.
Collins, T. (2020). Kenya faces a timber shortage as demand for wood grows. African Business. https://african.business/2020/11/energy-resources/kenya-faces-timber-shortage-as-demand-for-wood-grows/Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation,02(02). https://doi.org/10.4066/2529-8046.100040
FAO (2010). Adoption of sustainable forest management practices. International Forestry, 11(14), 133-147. www.atyponlink.com/CFA/doi/pdfIl0.lS0S/ifor.ll.4.S14
FAO (2011). State of the world's forests. Rome: FAO.
Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) (2007). Details of the breakdown of the national and state provisional population totals of 2006 census. Federal Government of Nigeria Official Gazette, 94(24): B175-B198. Abuja. http://placng.org/Legal%20Notice%20on%20Publication%20of%202006%20Census%20Final%20Results.pdf
Gana A.H., Said A.I., Impact of Deforestation on Some Selected Communities In Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria. Fudma Journal of Social Sciences, 2022. DOI: 10.33003/fjs-2022-0601-911
Gbegeh, B. &Akuibo, C. (2013). Socioeconomic detarminants of adoption of yam minisett by farmers in Rivers State, Nigeria. Wudpecker Journal of Agricultural Research 2 (1), 033- 038
Gimah, B.G and Bodo, T. (2019). Creation of Awareness through Environmental Adult Education as a Solution to the Problem of Habitat Loss in Ogoni, Rivers State, Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications, 3(1), 22-28
Gustavo Oliveira Et Al. (2021). Environmental Research Letters, 16(6), 065002. Https://Doi.Org/10.1088/1748-9326/Abf54c
Ikpe, E., Omede, U. D. & Alhassan, Y.J. (2024). Relationship between rainfall variability and maize yeild in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Guj. J.Ext.Edu. 36(2), 37-45.
Insaidoo, T. F.G., Ros-Tonen, M. A. F. Hoogenbosch, L. and Acheampong, E. (2012). Addressing Forest Degradation and Timber Deficits in Ghana, ETFRN News. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 4(2), 94–101.
Lawrence, D. &Vandecar, K. (2015). Effects of tropical deforestation on climate. Nature climate change.
Macdonald, J. (2018). Does Deforestation Lead to Drought? | JSTOR Daily. JSTOR Daily. https://daily.jstor.org/deforestation-lead-drought/
Meek, T (2019). Effects of deforestation. How agriculture cause deforestation? SentientMedia.sentientmedia.org (Retrieved 15th November, 2019).
Mfon, P., Akintoye, O.A., Mfon, G, Olorundami, T., Ukata, U. &Akintoye, T. A. (2014). Challenges of deforestation in Nigerian and the millennium development goals. International Journal of Environment and Bioenergy, 9(2), 76-94.
Mulinge, W., Gicheru, P., Murithi, F., Maingi, P., Kihiu, E., Kirui, O. K., & Mirzabaev, A. (2015). Economics of Land Degradation and Improvement in Kenya. Economics of Land Degradation and Improvement – a Global Assessment for Sustainable Development, 471–498. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19168-3_16
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) -. (n.d.). Desertification and Drought Day 2020. Www.nema.go.ke. https://www.nema.go.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=2&Itemid=469
National Population Commission (2009).PopulationCensus Official Gazette (FGP 71/52007/2,
Ndegwa, G., Sola, P., Iiyama, M., Okeyo, I., Njenga, M., Siko, I., & Muriuki, J. (2020). Charcoal value chains in Kenya: a 20-year synthesis. https://doi.org/10.5716/wp20026.pdf
Nzeh, C.E.P. (2012). Economic analysis of deforestation in Enugu State. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Nzeh, E., Eboh, E. &Nweze, N. J. (2015). State and trend of deforestation: An insight and lesson from Enugu state, Nigeria. Net Journal of Agriculture Science, 3(1), 23-31.
Poore, J.; Nemecek, T. (1 June 2018). "Reducing food's environmental impacts through producers and consumers". Science. 360 (6392): 987–992. Bibcode:2018Sci... 360..987P. doi:10.1126/science. aaq0216. PMID 29853680.
Quaye, S. (2009). Food Security situations in North Ghana, coping strategies and related constraints. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 3(5): 48-76.
Reliefweb.net. (2021). Kenya: IRIN Focus on dangers of deforestation - Kenya. ReliefWeb. https://reliefweb.int/report/kenya/kenya-irin-focus-dangers-deforestation.
Sheram, K. (2013). The environmental data book: The World Bank, Washington DC. The tropical forest, eds. Brown, K. and Pearce, D. pp 134-43
Terwase S. &Terese E. T. (2013). Residents coping measures in flood prone areas of Makurdi town, Benue State. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences 19(2), 30-42.
World Bank & FAO. (2018). Somalia country economic memorandum: Rebuilding resilient and sustainable agriculture in Somalia. World Bank; FAO.
World Bank (2006). Poverty and Hunger: Issues and options for Food Security in Developing countries. Washington
World Bank (2018). Somalia drought impact & needs assessment, Vol. II
Wuyep, S.Z., Isha, A.H., Arin, H.B. and Daloeng, H.M (2020). Application of Remote Sensing and GIS to Detect Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Jos East Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. Bakkos Journal of Science Report (B-JASREP), 1 (1), 1-8.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 LASU Journal of Environmental Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The copyright belongs to the Journal of Environmental Sciences (LASU-JES), faculty of Environmental Sciences, Lagos State University.
