Theories of Population and Agricultural Conditions: A Re-examination with, evidences from Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

There are two broad categories of views among researchers on the relationship between population and agriculture. The first holds that population is dependent on agriculture, while a second view is that conditions of agriculture and rural livelihood are dependent on population. However such views particularly on traditional African farming systems were rarely derived from long-term field survey on specific communities. The research on which this paper is based uses a 1974 survey as a benchmark. A cross-sectional survey of the same three communities of varying population densities studied in 1974 was conducted in 2004. Results show decreased fallow years, intensified use of technologies and increased farm output. However issues that appeared less important three decades ago have emerged with significant influence on livelihood. Migration and increased reliance on off-farm jobs are of particular importance. It is therefore important that research and policy address issues such as modernization of the farm sector through labour saving devices, and provision of farm technologies including inorganic fertilizer.
Key Words: farming systems, agricultural conditions, population growth


Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 157-166