ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND-USE INTENSIFICATION PRACTICE AND ITS DETERMINANTS AMONG FOOD CROP FARMERS IN SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The agricultural land-use intensification process is the continual cultivation of a farmland area that is characterized with low fallow period and improved methods of farming system. Such practices were considered as a means to enhance food crop production in order to keep pace with food demand. In view of this, there is a need to assess the extent and determining factors of agricultural land-use intensification among food crop farmers in southwestern part of Nigeria. A sum of 346 respondents were sampled through multi-stage sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics, Ruthenberg (R) index and Fractional Logit Regression Model. The findings showed that the percentages of farmers with low (R<33%), medium (R≤66%) and high R>66%) land-use intensities were 3.18%, 19.65% and 77.17% respectively while the mean value of intensity of land-use is approximately 80% based on Ruthenberg index. This study further identified that agricultural land-use intensification in south-west, Nigeria hinges on the gender of the farmer, credit access, inorganic fertilizer use, farm size and extension services. It has to be concluded that the agricultural land system is associated with high landuse intensity in the study area. Policy efforts on agricultural land-use intensification strategy should be ready at all courses to support the farmers by providing inorganic fertilizers, unconditional credit, and also facilitate easy access to farmland parcels as well as extension trainings in order to ensure a sustainable agricultural intensification.