Farmers' Perception on the Impact of Grazing Livestock on Some Tuber Crops Production in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

In Abuja, a study was conducted to assess farmers' perceptions of the impact of grazing livestock on some tuber crops (yam, cassava,  and potato). In the study area, 300 tuber crop farmers were sampled using a multi-stage sampling technique. A structured questionnaire  was used to collect data. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA). According to the  socioeconomic analysis, the majority of the farmers were male and married. The majorities of them had a household size of 6-10 people  and were between the ages of 41 and 50, indicating that they were economically active. In addition, the majority of them had 11-20 years  of farming experience and a secondary school education. The majority of them were smallholder farmers with no more than 3 hectares  of farmland. Cassava was the most affected tuber crop in the study area by grazing livestock, while cattle were the most destructive  livestock to tuber crops in the study area. The study found that the impact of grazing on tuber crop production varied significantly (p <  .05) depending on tuber type (yam, cassava, and potato), livestock type (cattle, goat, and sheep), and location of the state's small-scale  farmers. Furthermore, the interaction of tuber type, livestock type, and location had a significant impact on the level of grazing on tuber  crops in the study area. The highest estimated average cost of cassava damage was N24, 519.19. The average cost of potato damage was  N6, 328.36, the lowest in the study area. It was suggested that livestock farmers be given grazing reserves in order to reduce the constant  clashes between crop farmers and herders caused by livestock destruction of crops.