Conserving Agricultural Biodiversity at Imburu Ward of Numan Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted in Imburu Ward, Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria to assess the role of local communities in agricultural diversity conservation. Background characteristics of households showed that farmers above 50 years of age were the most dominant group involved in agricultural biodiversity conservation. These were mostly males who had no formal education. Results on main crops grown showed that vegetables were cultivated by almost every household (80%), followed by sorghum with 75%, while rice was the lowest with 10%. Information on crops and crop varieties grown showed that most households in the study area cultivated between 1 and 2 varieties, with few households cultivating less than 2 varieties. There is need to harness and utilise the synergy that exists between modern practices of improving agricultural biodiversity and local knowledge and skills so that food supply and resource base of rural communities are alleviated.

Keywords: Conservation, Local knowledge, agriculture, biodiversity, crops, Nigeria