Agro-forestry as a strategy for environmental conservation and sustainable peace in Sudano-Sahelian zone of northern Nigeria

Abstract

Sudano-Sahelian zone of Nigeria has a history of meeting the demands of both the human and livestock population with food and fodder supplies. However, growing human population in recent time coupled with climate change has brought keen competition for the control of land resource between crop farmers and pastoralists, resulting to conflicts which in most cases end in loss of life and property, rapid reduction of fodder and crop, low productivity of land and general poverties. Approach to stem these phenomena is application of aagro-forestry systems to improve soil fertility. This study was conducted in three northern states of Borno, Jigawa and Sokoto to proffer agroforestry as one of the solutions to the problem in the area. Purposive and random sampling procedures were used to select 10 communities from where 310 respondents were select rural communities and respondents, respectively. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, means and percentages). Deforestation of economic trees on their farmland was the major cause of the conflicts in the area. The farmers were aware of dwindling trend of crops, fodder and other vegetal resources over the years. Natural forest had dwindled by 37.3%, shrubs and grass by 11.5% and water by 26.9%. Also, they were aware of potentials of agro-forestry practices to improve crop and fodder production in the area. Some 37.3% stated soil erosion control, 21.9% reported as a mean of wind break and 11% pointed that agroforestry conserves groundwater. Therefore, it was recommended that state government should strictly enforce deforestation laws to minimize pressure on land resources, and sensitise and educate farmers on wood production for their various uses in the area.