Study on agroforestry practices in Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out to assess the various agroforestry practices in Abak Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaires, physical observations and oral interview were used to collect data from agroforestry farmers (respondents) in the four clans (Abak, Otoro, Midim and Afaha-Obong) in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Results showed that 67.25% of the respondents were males whereas 32.75% were females. 81.75% of the respondents were in the age brackets of 30-49 years, while those in age brackets 50 years and above were 18.25%. Married people constituted 89.50% of the respondents with 0.50% as single; 56.75% engaged in fulltime farming, 20% were civil servants/farmers and 23.25% combined petty trading with
farming. Local knowledge (84.50%) largely contributed to agroforestry knowledge of the respondents. Educational qualifications of respondents were: FSLC (45.25%), WAEC (48.25%), OND/NCE (6.00%), while 0.50% had HND/Degree. Types of agroforestry practices adopted by respondents, plant utility-form, mode of cultivation of agroforestry farms, problems affecting production of agroforestry, and source of nutrient in agroforestry farms in the study areas, all showed different significant results (p=0.05). Further study is recommended to determine the appropriate plant compositions of individual plant species in the various agroforestry practices.

KEYWORDS: Agroforestry practices, ecological benefits, socio-economic livelihood, Abak LGA, Nigeria.