Title: An assessment of potential contributions of agroforestry to food security in Katsina, Sudan Savannah Area, Nigeria
Abstract: This finding assessed the potential contributions of agroforestry practices to food production in Sudan ecological areas of Katsina State, Nigeria. Multi-stage and purposive sampling designs were used to collect data from three hundred and sixty (360) rural farmers with structured questionnaire administered in nine Local Government Areas of Katsina State. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study result showed the socio-economic attributes of farmers in the rural areas, farm size, land ownership, types of crops and trees plant and the perceived benefits of agroforestry practices. This study showed that most of the respondents’ primary occupation was farming and they acquired land by inheritance. The major farm yields were food crop production (71.9%), livestock (9.1%), tree crops (2.2%) and combinations of these crops (16.1%). The common agroforestry practices by the respondents were windbreaks, multipurpose trees on farmland and woodlots. The contribution of agroforestry practices in the study area included provision of fruits and leaves, improvement of soil fertility, erosion control and provision of fodder. Most of the respondents reported an increased yield of food crops from a mixed tree and crop farm. Agroforestry practices increase quality of the soil with important nutrients and prevent soil erosion resulting to high crop production. Thus, adoption of agroforestry practices on farmland in the study area would greatly boast food production and soil nutrients.
Publication Year: 2017
Publication Date: 2017-08-30
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 1
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