Farmers use of erosion control measures in Anambra State Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the attitude of farmers to the use of erosion control measure in Anambra State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 farmers used for the study. Results show that majority (99.2%&98.3%) of the respondents indicated that rain water run-off and poor road construction respectively were the major causes of soil erosion in the area. All (100%) the respondents used mixed cropping, tie ridging and mulching as control practice against erosion. Challenges to farmers’ use of erosion control practices were: unavailability of resource required (x̄ =3.44), and high cost of using the practice    (x̄ =3.23). Respondents had positive attitude to erosion control as indicated by the results including: it is good to adopt some erosion practices as it helps to save the soil (x̄ =2.68), interested in issues concerning erosion as this will help me gain knowledge of how to control it (x̄ =2.68),I always teach their family members how to control erosion on their farmland/homes (x̄ =2.56), I will like to be trained about erosion control even though it has not directly affected them (x̄ =2.55).in the area.  The paper advocates that government at all levels should provide financial incentives to farmers so that they can afford some good erosion control practices which are costly for them.

Keywords: environmental degradation, farmers’ attitude, erosion control practices