Survey on Soil Conservation Practices among Food Crop Farmers in Zing Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the awareness, preference and adoption of soil conservation practices among arable crop farmers in Zing Local Government Area of Taraba State. The study was a community based cross sectional study of a sample of 200 food crop farmers drawn from ten communities in Zing Local Government Area of Taraba State. A multistage purposive and random sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents used for the study. A total of 200 farmers were selected in ten out of the seventy-five major villages from the ten farming communities. Data generated were analysed using descriptive statistics, employing frequencies and percentages. Ranking technique was used to rank farmer’s preference of conservation practice. The result indicated that most of the farmers (80%) practiced conservation techniques. Ten per cent, 4% and 6% of the farmers were aware of the practice but never practiced it, not aware and had practiced but given up, respectively. The most preferred practices were mixed cropping which ranked first, mixed farming, crop rotation and manure/plant residue application. Others were use of cover crops, use of fertilizer and bush fallow. Reasons for the practice of soil conservation techniques included immediate monetary gain (100%) and to increase yield (96%). Other reasons included improving soil fertility (78%), preventing erosion (76%), reducing heat stress (66%), and ensuring long-term sustainability of land (58%) and advice of extension agent (40%). Forty-eight per cent indicated that they were just doing what other farmers were doing. Farmers were aware of soil conservation practices and many were currently engaged in some of the practices.