Socio-Economic Impact of Desertification on Rural Livelihood in Ganye Southeastern Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the socio-economic impact of desertification on rural livelihood in Toungo, Southeastern fringe of Adamawa State, Nigeria, situated in the Southern Guinea Savanna zone. A total of three hundred (300) respondents (farmers) interviewed were selected using purposive and random sampling techniques. The results of socio-economic characteristics of the respondents (farmers) are presented in Table 1. On the causes of desertification, the respondents (56.7%) indicated that the main causes of desertification were human activities, 30% were of the opinion that this was cause by changes in the climate, while 13.3% of the respondents are ignorant of what causes desertification. When asked about the effect of desertification on their livelihoods, 43.3% of the respondents indicated that there was reductions in the amount of rainfall receive each year, 40% pointed out that there was increased in temperature, and 16.7% maintained that they noticed drying of water bodies. There was a diverse response concerning the impact of desertification on farmer's agricultural activities. 43.3% of the respondents pointed out that they recorded poor harvest as the result of desertification in the previous years, 36.7% maintained that they notice an increase in wind erosion, 13.3% shows that the situation was tending towards a decrease in the availability of pasture for livestock, while 6.7% revealed that there was a drastic reduction in soil fertility as observed on their farmlands. The results of this study shows that majority of the farmers in the study area are aware about the causes, effects and impact of desertification as it's seriously affects their agricultural productions in diverse ways. At the same time, 56.7% of the respondents indicated that Aforestation is one of the best strategies for combating desertification, 43.3% believe that the practice of proper irrigation will be a good strategy, while 10% maintained that establishment and maintenance of shelter belts will reduce the impact of desertification in the study area. An important issue is how to support the rural poor to use the soils, the biota and other natural resources without destroying those resources, and without affecting the climate adversely.