Economics of soil conservation practices in Abia state of Nigeria

Soil degradation and desertification are already severe issues in Sub-Saharan Africa especially Nigeria, where smaller size and resource-poor farmers follow extractive farming practices. This has led to the clarion call for environmental/soil conservation measures. This necessitated this study on the economics of soil conservation measures in Abia state of Nigeria. Specificany, the study examined the socio-economic characteristics of farmers practicing soil conservation, analyzed the coststructure of farms with respect to the level of investment in soil conservation, and the profitability of soil conservation strategies as well as determined the socio-economic factors that influence the level of investment in soil conservation strategies. Multi-stage purposive and random sampling techniques were used in selecting the respondents used for the study. Data collected from 60 respondents using structured questionnaire and interview schedules were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency distribution, percentages, means, profit analysis, and OLS regression analysis. Result of data analysis revealed that 45.16 percent, 23.24 percent and 31.60 percent of the total cost constitute variable, fixed and isolated conservation costs respectively, and a N41900 accruing from the farm operations per farmer. The significant factors influencing investment in soil conservation measures were farm size, number of farm locations, years of formal education, extension contact, ownership status of farm land and farm income. It was recommended that policies that would grant the farmers access to more land and secure tenure should be put in place to enable them to take advantages of economies of scale and increase their investment in conservation. Also, efforts at increasing crop production and environmental conservation should involve policies that strengthen educating the farmer, especially agricultural education and conservation practices. In this guise, the extension system should be tailored to meet the information other felt needs of the farmers.