Strategies for the control of desertification in northern Nigeria

Abstract

The Northern part of Nigeria especially the frontline states comprising of Bauchi/ Gombe, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto/Zamfara and Kebbi which lie roughly North of latitude 120N face serious threats of desertification occasioned by over exposure of the fragile environment mostly through improper farming techniques, overgrazing by livestock and occurrence of frequent fires and drought. This ugly trend is further exacerbated by increase in the rate of fuel wood extraction especially by communities near to forest reserves due to high costs of alternative sources of domestic energy such as kerosene, gas and electricity. The need to maintain soils with stable structural aggregates which could contain more organic matter is crucial in combating desertification; hence choice of tree species to be used for shelter belt establishment is very important. Litters that drop from most leguminous trees decay and add more organic matter to the soil. Poor extension approaches and lack of adequate community participation in and adoption of tree planting technology and government’s role in formulating and executing forest policies are some of the reasons why it has been difficult to control desertification in Northern Nigeria. Different extension approaches such as Training and Visit (T&V), Training and Demonstration (T&D), mass mobilization of people, use of electronic and print media can be incorporated into various agroforestry practices such as the scattered farm trees, silvi-pastoral and agro-silvi-pastoral systems, and shelterbelt establishment in order to help alleviate the problems of desertification in Northern Nigeria. Post planting maintenance of trees should be taught and encouraged among communities where trees have been planted. Government and some non-governmental agencies have proffered various suggestions aimed at stemming the menace of desertification but these are yet to yield results.