Spatial Analysis of Agricultural Land Use Change and Farmers Adaptation to the Land Loss in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the agricultural land use change and farmers adaptation to the land Loss by collecting data through structured questionnaire and aerial imagery. Cluster sampling was used to sample farmers in each cooperative and total of 173 registered farmers were selected for this study. The study revealed that Agricultural land decreases with an annual change rate of -6.8km² (-60%) between 2001 and 2016, the total loss in annual rate from 1987 – 2016 was -5.7km² (-55.9%). The result also revealed that in order to cope with the change in agricultural land, Majority (53.4%) of the farmers did not depend solely on farming anymore but combined farming with other job opportunities that urbanization brought their ways. an exit from farming or reduction in production intensity in anticipation of future sale of land to developers is been term as a negative adaptation, the study therefore recommend that urban farmers should be encourage to continue in urban farming because most importantly, it provide the urban centres access to fresh vegetables among others.